MANKATO, Minn. — The Bethany Lutheran men's basketball team (9-9 overall, 5-3 UMAC) defeated Martin Luther (2-16,0-8) in wire-to-wire fashion Friday night, 96-55. 
 
With the victory, Bethany extended its winning streak to three games, and secured a season sweep over the Knights. 


 
The Vikings built a 49-22 advantage in the first half, thanks in large part to a dominant performance inside. 
 
Prior to the break, BLC outrebounded the Knights 31-17 and held a 30-14 edge in points in the paint. It also doubled up the Knights in overall shooting percentage from the field (50-25). 
 
Senior Brian Smith (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) led the Vikings with 14 points, and was a team-high +29 in 15 minutes of action in the half. 
 
MLC played Bethany even through the first dozen minutes of the second half, but never seriously jeopardized the game's outcome. 
 
Smith finished with a team-high 21 points, and added five rebounds, four assists, and two steals. 
 
Junior Justin Schrupp (Danube, Minn.) joined Smith in double figures with 19. 
 
Seniors Cire Mayfield (St. Louis Park, Minn.) and Jacob Milinkovich (New Prague, Minn.), junior Hunter Nielsen (New Prague, Minn.), and freshman Riley Ashburn (Renville, Minn.) scored eight points each. 
 
Nielsen also had a game-high nine rebounds and three blocks. 
 
The Vikings finished the game holding large advantages in fast break points (29-2) and points off the bench (38-22), as they outshot the Knights in all three shooting percentage categories. 


 
Bethany continues its homestand next Friday night versus Northland College at 7:15 p.m.