MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran men's basketball team (6-8 overall, 2-2 UMAC) fell to North Central (7-7,2-2) 104-101 in overtime. 
 
The Vikings jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead in the game's opening three minutes. After a timeout, the Rams rallied and only trailed by three (23-20) with 9:39 to go in the half. 
 
Later in the frame, back-to-back steals by seniors Cire Mayfield (St. Louis Park, Minn.) and Brian Smith (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) led to easy buckets, which opened a 10-0 run that pushed the lead to 17. 
 
BLC shot 10-18 from beyond the arc in the first half, and took the 52-40 lead at halftime.
 
After a back-and-forth start in the second half, the lead was cut to eight (77-69) with just over seven minutes to play. 
 
Bethany continued to keep North Central at bay, and a basket by junior Hunter Nielsen (New Prague, Minn.) gave the Vikings a four-point lead with just over a minute to play. 
 
The Rams stormed back with a triple and a layup in the final 22 seconds of regulation to send the game to overtime tied at 91. 
 
Bethany briefly led 99-95 after Nielsen went on a 4-0 run by himself in the extra session, but North Central answered with two late game treys to solidify the win.
 
Mayfield led the Vikings with 19 points, as a balanced scoring attack saw all five starters finish in double figures. Smith and junior Justin Schrupp (Danube, Minn.) both had 18 points, Nielsen had 16, and senior Jared Milinkovich (New Prague, Minn.) had 10. Classmate Jacob Milinkovich (New Prague, Minn.) had 12 points off the bench.
 
Additionally, Nielsen had a game-high four blocks, to extend his lead as the program's all-time blocks leader. 
 
As a team, BLC owned the advantages in rebounds, assists, and blocks.
 
The Vikings will look to get back in the win column Saturday against first-place Northwestern. Tipoff is set for 4:45 p.m.