MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Bethany men's basketball advanced to the UMAC playoff championship game following a 92-78 win at top-seeded North Central on Wednesday night. The Vikings improve to 15-11 overall and will travel to UM-Morris on Saturday with a ticket to the national tournament on the line. 

North Central led for a majority of the first eight minutes of the game, up by as many as seven points, but a fastbreak layup by Elliot Whitney followed by another fastbreak layup by Max Briggs gave the Vikings a 23-21 lead at the 12:06 mark. The lead changed sides four more times over the next six minutes until a three by Briggs with 6:04 on the clock put the Vikings up for good. More threes from Will Walter and Hudsen Jenniges gave the Vikings an 11-point lead and they carried a 50-39 advantage into the locker room at half. 

A fastbreak three by Briggs gave the Vikings their largest lead at 75-54 with 12:15 remaining in regulation. The Rams did not go quietly, though, cutting the difference to eight with 4:13 on the clock, but the Vikings closed out the game on the charity stripe for a 14-point victory. 

Briggs led the offense with 26 point while making 12-of-13 free throws. Brady Ingersoll added 18 points and Jack Brockmann had 14 points and six rebounds. The Vikings shot 54.4 percent from the floor and 58.8 percent from long range. 

Saturday's UMAC playoff championship game at Morris begins at 4:30 p.m.
  Read Full Article