MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran men's basketball team (18-6 overall, 13-2 UMAC) defeated Crown (9-14, 7-8) 98-90 Wednesday. The score in the second half remained close as neither team led by more than four points and was tied for the final time at 63 all with 9:50 to play. The Vikings responded with a 12-3 run over the next two minutes to take the nine-point lead (77-68).
 
The Storm sliced the margin to four four more times in the frame, which included at 92-88 with 1:29 to play. Sophomore Cire Mayfield (St. Louis Park, Minn.) answered with a triple on the next possession to push the lead to seven as Bethany would make half of its free throws down the stretch as Crown chose to foul.


 
Mayfield led Bethany with 26 points. Three teammates joined him in double digits as senior Trenton Krueger (Eagan, Minn.) and junior Brian Smith (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) both had 21, and junior Jared Milinkovich (New Prague, Minn.) had a double double with 10 points and as many rebounds.
 
BLC completed another season sweep with the win, and held the advantages in rebounds (43-29), and blocks (4-3).
 
The Vikings will conclude the regular season Saturday when they host UW-Superior at 3 p.m.