MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran men's basketball team Saturday afternoon hosted UW-Superior and fell to the Yellowjackets by a score of 84-80. With the loss the Vikings fall to 3-10 overall and 0-2 in the UMAC while the Yellowjackets move to 5-8 overall and 2-0 in conference play. 

It was a blazing hot start for Bethany, as they would push their way out to a 16-3 lead just six minutes into the contest with DJ Akpati and Dominik Bangu each scoring two baskets early. UWS would then start to fight their way back in, as they would go on a 16-7 run over the next five minutes and would trail just 23-19 with nine to go in the half.

A pair of Teon Thomas buckets would start a 6-0 run to put the Vikings back up double digits, but 10 straight from Superior would even the score at 29. Bethany would quickly push their lead back to six points at 36-30, but the Yellowjackets would close the half on a 10-2 run to take a 40-38 lead into the half.

To begin the second half the Vikings would got out of the gates quickly once again, as they would embark on an 11-5 run to open the frame with four different players scoring the stretch. 

Bethany would keep the Yellowjackets at bay over the course of the next eight minutes and it wasn't until back-to-back buckets inside from UWS with eight minutes to go that they would get the deficit back down to one. The lead would stay at one possession in the Vikings favor for a few minutes, before a big corner three with 5:40 to go from UWS would give them their first lead in over 13 minutes at 70-69. Three free throws and a layup from the Yellowjackets would push their lead all the way to six points with four minutes to go, but a contested Drew Sagedahl three pointer would trim it in half. An and-one on the other end re-extended the UWS lead to six points, but a 6-0 run from Bethany over the next minute would put draw them even at 78 apiece with just 2:26 to play. 

A Jack Brockmann made free throw with 1:40 to go gave the Vikings the lead back, but a foul on the other end and a bonus opportunity would result in a pair of makes from Superior. After a miss on the other end from Bethany, a tough fallaway from UWS with 30 seconds to play would find the bottom of the net and push their lead back to three points. Akpati would get fouled on the ensuing possession and connect on 1-of-2 at the line to bring the score to 82-80 but Superior would make their two free throws with 11 seconds to play to go back up four. Bethany's three point attempt with time winding down missed and the Yellowjackets would secure the rebound and the victory 84-80. 

All five Viking starters were in double figures with Sagedahl leading the way with 19 points and eight rebounds. Bangu and Akpati each scored 16 for Bethany, while Brockmann posted his first career double double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

The Vikings will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Crown College for a 5:30 p.m. matchup.