MANKATO, Minn. - Bethany would have two chances in the game's waning moments to tie things up with Crown but a pair of Viking threes couldn't find the mark as the visitors held on for a 91-88 victory on Saturday afternoon. With the loss the Vikings fall to 8-11 overall and 5-3 in the UMAC while the Polars move to 11-8 overall and 4-4 in conference play.
Both offenses were able to get things rolling early but it was Crown who would make the first big run of the contest as they would score seven answered to claim a 20-12 lead with 12:17 to go in the first.
Jax Madson and
Jack Brockmann would then finish inside on back-to-back possessions spark the Vikings as they would embark on a 21-13 run over the next eight minutes to even the score at 33 apiece. A three pointer by
Teon Thomas after a made hoop from the Polars put Bethany up 36-35 for their first lead since the early goings but Crown would answer down the stretch, outscoring the Vikings 10-4 over the final four minutes to lead 45-40 at the break.
All five Bethany starters would score in the first four minutes of the second half as they would go on a 10-5 run to even the score at 50 apiece. Brockmann would then match a pair of Polar baskets with a finish inside and a fastbreak dunk as the two teams would settle at a score of 54 before the Vikings would make their big run of the half. Madson would kickstart it with a pair of buckets inside the arc, before connecting on a fastbreak three a few moments later to help the home team go on an 11-2 run and claim their biggest lead of the contest at 65-56 with just over 10 minutes to play.
The Vikings would continue their momentum over the next few minutes, as
Drew Sagedahl would knock down a few midrange shots to give Bethany a 10 point lead at 71-61, but 10 points in the span of 1:19 from Crown re-evened the score at 71 all. Madson would hit another step back jumper to give the Vikings the lead back before pulling up in transition from way downtown for another triple to push their lead to five. Crown would once again answer the call though, as they would tally the next six points scored in the contest and would hold a 77-76 lead with 4:13 to play.
After the Polars answered another Brockmann finish inside with a three, Thomas would connect on threes on back-to-back possessions and the Vikings would control a four point lead with 2:30 to go. Tyrus Bucker, who finished the game with 37 points for Crown, would prove to be too much over the next two minutes for Bethany though, as he would go on a 7-2 run with two buckets inside and an and-one to match just a pair of free throws for the Vikings as the Polars held a one-point lead with a minute to play.
Dominik Bangu couldn't connect on a three with 45 seconds to play, and with the shot clock winding down on the other end, Buckner would once again find the bottom of the net for Crown as they led 89-86 with 15 seconds to go. The Vikings would elect to take the quick layup on the other end as Brockmann would score, but after a Viking foul the Polars would knock down both free throws to keep their lead at three with five seconds left. Bethany would get a great initial look from Sagedahl on a well designed sideline out of bounds play, but his three would rattle out and Madson's offensive rebound and fallaway prayer at the buzzer fell short as Crown held on for the win.
Madson led Bethany in the contest with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Sagedahl had 20 points and five assists. Bangu, Brockmann and Thomas also all finished with double figures with 17, 14, and 10 points, respectively, with Brockmann adding six assists.
The Vikings will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Martin Luther for a 5:30 p.m. contest.
