MANKATO, Minn. – The Bethany Lutheran men's basketball team (21-6 overall) won the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament Championship to advance to the NCAA Tournament next week. The Vikings defeated St. Scholastica (15-13) 92-82 Saturday night. With the victory, BLC set the season mark in wins as it surpassed the 20 set in 2017-18.

This is the second appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the program, and is the second trip in the last three years.

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The Saints led 49-43 at halftime and later pushed the margin to nine with 7:48 to play. BLC answered with an 11-2 run over the next two minutes to even the score at 76 all. Senior Trenton Krueger (Eagan, Minn.) converted the three-point play to put the Vikings up by three with 4:56 remaining.
 
Two free throws from junior Brian Smith (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and a layup from classmate Jared Milinkovich (New Prague, Minn.) gave Bethany the seven-point lead (83-76) with 3:01 to play. The Saints cut the margin to five as they made two free throws, but that would be the closest they could trim it as the Vikings made it a nine-point game on its next two straight baskets.
 
Krueger was named the Tournament MVP. He had a double double with 29 points and 13 rebounds as he became Bethany's career record holder in rebounds. Milinkovich had 25 points, sophomore Cire Mayfield (St. Louis Park, Minn.) had a double double with 16 points and 11 assists, and Smith finished with 11 points.
 
Click here for the story in the Mankato Free Press.
Click here for the photo gallery.

BLC will learn its opponent and game location during the NCAA selection show Monday at 11:30 a.m.