Box Score

Men's Basketball Rolls to 73-59 Win Over Northland

 
MANKATO, Minn. – Happening in the Sports and Fitness Center Friday night was Upper Midwest Athletic Conference basketball between the Bethany men's basketball team and the Northland Lumberjacks.  Final score of the contest was 73-59 in favor of the Vikings.
 
In a game that had huge postseason conference tournament implications for both the Vikings and Lumberjacks, it was the Bethany Vikings who came out on top Friday night in the SFC. In what would be described as a back and forth game, the Lumberjacks held a 31-29 lead over the Vikings at the half. The Lumberjacks were led at the half by Rijo Jackson who knocked down a trifecta of three point shots in the first half.
 
The second half started out much like how the first half ended with back and forth lead changes and immense drama that led to a Viking surge late in the second half. At the eight minute mark, the Vikings were able to turn to junior leader, Brandyn Frelix, who ended up scoring 19 points in the second half leading the Vikings to a 73-59 victory over the Lumberjacks.

Frelix ended the game with a double-double performance of 25 points and 11 rebounds. Another key factor for the Vikings was the bench scoring supplied by Jarred Merchant. The freshman finished the game scoring 12 points in only 21 minutes of action.
 
This win for the Vikings puts them at 8-12 overall with a conference record of 6-6 which keeps the Vikings right in line for one of the last UMAC Postseason Tournament bids. The Vikings will face non-conference opponent Finlandia tomorrow afternoon starting at 3 p.m. in the Sports and Fitness Center.

However, the true test for this team is yet to come. The Bethany men's basketball team will face four conference opponents on the road in the last two weeks of the season in which all four will have huge conference tournament implications.