MANKATO, Minn. – Even with a conference championship under their belt and school record for most wins in a season, the Bethany Vikings men's basketball team wants more. The top-seeded Vikings get that opportunity on Saturday afternoon when they host the third-seed University of Northwestern men's basketball team for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament championship game.
 
In just his second year as head coach of the Vikings, Matt Fletcher has his squad ready to do something that has never been done at Bethany, qualify for the NCAA National Tournament. The top-seeded Vikings have been the most dominant team in the UMAC this season, something they proved on Wednesday night with a 112-69 victory over MN-Morris in the tournament semi-finals. Against UMAC opponents, the Vikings are the top offensive team, relentlessly attacking to an average of 84.4 points per game in the regular season. On defense, the Vikings have had the same attacking mentality, holding their opponents to just 40.9% shooting from the field.
 
The University of Northwestern Eagles find themselves in a familiar position under head coach Tim Grosz. The Eagles have won seven straight UMAC tournament titles and beat St. Scholastica on the road on Wednesday evening in their search for number eight. The Eagles have been steady all year long and bring one of the toughest defenses in the league to Mankato on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles hold their conference opponents to an average of 69.8 points per game which is fewest in the UMAC. On offense, the Eagles play with patience and poise, committing just 8.5 turnovers per game which is tops in UMAC play.
 
In the first meeting of the season between the two teams, the Vikings controlled tempo, playing at a blistering pace, and won by a score of 97-72. In the second game, it was the Eagles who controlled tempo, winning on their home-court 78-65. That loss for the Vikings was their last as they have now won five games in a row while scoring an average of 93.8 points per game during that streak, surpassing the 100 point mark in three of the five games.
 
The Vikings and Eagles will bring their best on Saturday, February 24th. Tipoff is 3 PM.
 
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MEDIA: If you need further information, please feel free to contact Dan DeWitt at 507-344-7856 or email ddewitt@blc.edu