AURORA, Ill. - Bethany men's basketball tipped off the season with a convincing 79-60 win over Rockford on Friday evening. The Vikings shot a blistering 61.3 percent from the floor in the second half and out-scored the Regents 29-13 in the final nine minutes of the game. 

Playing his first game in the Vikings jersey, Max Briggs led the team with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including 3-for-5 from long range. Jack Brockmann, Blue Smaller, and Amory Peterson each contributed 10 points. Brockmann and Peterson added 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively, to lead the team on the glass. 

After trading buckets to start the game, a layup by Smaller at the 16:44 mark sparked a 12-0 run and gave the Vikings the lead for good. Bethany carried a 31-23 lead into the locker room at half. 

The Vikings increased their lead to 13 points (50-37) at the 13:20 mark of the second before the Regents climbed back with 10 straight points, cutting their deficit to three. Bethany answered with a 7-0 run thanks to layups by Elliot Whitney and Briggs, and a trey from Rysley Borman. The Vikings built their lead to double digits and finished the game with their largest advantage of 19 points following another three from Briggs. 

Bethany out-rebounded Rockford 44-35 and out-scored them in the paint 46-22. 

The Vikings play host Aurora at 5 p.m. Saturday. 
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