MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Bethany men's basketball dropped the regular season finale 102-96 at North Central on Saturday. The Vikings enter the UMAC playoffs as the No. 4 seed with a 14-11 overall record and 7-5 mark in the conference, and will travel to top-seeded North Central once again Wednesday.Â
Both teams shot over 55 percent from the floor, but the Rams made the difference from beyond the arc, making 13-of-24 three-pointers, while the Vikings were limited to 5-of-18. The Rams also won the rebound battle 34-26 with 12 second-chance points.Â
Bethany held the early lead following a three by Brady Ingersoll and a dunk by Jack Brockmann, but the Rams answered with a 13-5 run and never relinquished the lead. North Central built its first half lead to as much as 14 with 3:31 on the clock but the Vikings ended the half on a 11-2 run and trailed 48-43 at half.Â
Brockmann's layup three minutes into the second half got the Vikings within one but that's the closest the visitors got the rest of the game. North Central built its lead back up to double digits for a majority of the final 12 minutes. The Vikings got within six points in the final minute, but it was too little, too late.Â
Brockmann paced the offense with 23 points on 11-of-14 shooting. Will Walter added 21 points.Â
Bethany and North Central will face each other again Wednesday in the UMAC semifinals.Â
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