Bethany shot out to a quick lead in the first half before KWU went on an 11-0 run and forced Bethany into the locker room at the half down by ten. The Swedes got off to a slow start in the second half while the Coyotes of Kansas Wesleyan went on a 12-4 run to put them up by 20. Bethany made a defensive adjustment late in the second half, upping the intensity and allowing them to pull within six twice in the final minute of the contest. However, KWU ultimately prevailed with a 77-69 win over the Swedes, halting Bethany's win streak.

"I am disappointed with the way we came out and played defensively," said head coach Clair Oleen. "Our defense has been so good at dictating, but we didn't have the level of intensity we needed until about the last six minutes of the game."

Fueled by a 21-point second half, senior Rodd Williams recorded a game-high 26 points. Senior Jason Schneider added 12 points.

"Offensively, we were not patient enough in our execution," Oleen said. "We didn't execute and let the plays come to us. We also had 22 turnovers which resulted in 27 fast break points for them."

Bethany hosted Southwestern College Saturday night to end the week.

In nothing shy of a tight and nail biting game, Bethany and Southwestern battled back and forth all evening. Up by one at halftime, the Swedes struggled to build a lead as the Moundbuilders kept the game close. Bethany had a one-point lead with less than 30 seconds to go, but Southwestern drove down the lane and nailed a shot with just over four seconds on the clock to steal the lead. Despite shooting 48 percent in the contest, the Swedes fell 77-76 to a Moundbuilder team that shot an impressive 54 percent.

"We played with more energy, better execution, better movement, and just played together better," said Oleen. "We also won the rebounding battle. We did miss some of our fire power down low, which was significant."

Williams again scored a game-high 24 points, followed by senior C.J. Littlejohn with 21. Schneider tacked on 11 points. Senior Brandon Miller grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and two blocked shots as senior Kendall Banning also contributed two blocked shots. Williams and freshman Danny Dodson each tallied three assists as Littlejohn totaled four steals on the night.

"It was a game we should have won," Oleen said. "We had two turnovers right before the half that resulted in fast break points, and also had two turnovers in the last minute or two of the game that resulted in the same, which really hurt us. In the second half, it was just back and forth the whole time; I think we maybe had a four or six point lead at one point, but it was usually a one-point lead back and forth. But as a fan, it was a good college basketball game to watch."

The Swedes are now 3-5 in the KCAC, putting them in fifth place, and 7-11 overall. They host the University of St. Mary on Thursday, January 21 at 8 p.m. before traveling to Friends University in Wichita on Saturday, January 23 at 7 p.m.

"It was a disheartening end to the week, as Southwestern penetrated at the end, (Brandon) Miller blocks the shot and it goes right back into the hands of the shooter, and he makes the game-winner," said Oleen. "We only gave up seven offensive rebounds, and that was one of them. It was a tough loss, but if we played with that kind of energy Thursday night, we may have had a different outcome."