MANKATO, Minn.—The Bethany Lutheran men's basketball team (6-3 overall, 4-3) defeated UW-Superior (3-4) 71-70 Thursday night in a UMAC Tournament quarterfinal game.
 
The YellowJackets led 31-30 at halftime, and the game was tied for the third time at 51 all with 6:36 to play. Junior Jerret Utpadel (Geneva, Minn.) completed the three-point play to give the Vikings their second lead of the night at 54-51. UW-Superior made it a two-point game on its triple with 20 seconds remaining (67-65). Two free throws from junior Jacob Milinkovich (New Prague, Minn.) three seconds later pushed the lead to four. The Jackets capitalized on a turnover to slice the lead to two once again with nine seconds left.
 
BLC then forced a turnover and junior Brian Smith (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) made both of his free throws to give it the 71-67 lead with two second remaining.
 
UWS made a trey as the buzzer sounded to seal the one-point win for the Vikings.

Smith finished with 24 points, sophomore Hunter Nielsen (New Prague, Minn.) had 12, and Milinkovich and sophomore Justin Schrupp (Danube, Minn.) each had 10.


Bethany will travel to face St. Scholastica in a UMAC Tournament semifinal Saturday at 7 p.m.