MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS SHORT IN CONFERENCE OPENER

Salina, Kan. - The Bethany College Men's Basketball team traveled to Salina, Kansas to play the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes for their first conference game of the season. Both teams had great defense, leading to a low scoring game with the Coyotes winning 62-54. 

Both teams had trouble running offense and dealt with a lot of fouls on each side. There were 49 total fouls on the night, 28 of them being on Bethany. Allowing the Coyotes to convert 25 of 37. The Coyotes fouled the Swedes 21 times while the Swedes only converted 21 of 33. With one second left in the first half Justin Brookens went down with an ankle injury that prevented him from returning to the floor. The first half ended with the Swedes held to 18 points and the Coyotes ahead by 8 points. 

Coach O'Dowd turned to Donovan Newton, a junior guard, who in just 18:35 minutes on the court was the only Swede to score double digits with a career high of 20. Coach O'Dowd said, "Their defense hurt us - their defense is good," Coach O'Dowd later said, "Our defense hurt them too, we held them to 20 points below their average and held them to a low shooting percentage (32.7 percent, 16 of 49). 

The Swedes were catching up in the second half, making the score 33-35 with 10:13 left on the clock with a layup from Josh Smith but that was as close as the Swedes got before the fouls started to make a difference in the game. Coach O'Dowd also stated, "That was the difference, they made their free throws and we missed ours. Both teams fought defensively very hard."

Donovan Newton led the Swedes offense, scoring 20 points with a three pointer, 5 jump shots, and made 7 out of 8 free throws. 

Up next…

The Bethany College Men's Basketball team will be back on the court Saturday, November 19th against Avila University. The Swedes will host the Eagles with tip off happening at 7:00PM. 

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