Thresher men's basketball dominates Ottawa, extending their win streak to five games
On Saturday, Bethel defeated the Braves, who were ranked 3rd in the KCAC, to move to 8-4 in conference play
The Bethel College men’s basketball team delivered an offensive masterclass on Saturday night, rolling to a 95-75 victory over Ottawa University in Thresher Gym. With the win, Bethel improved to 12-6 overall and 8-4 in KCAC play, solidifying their position as one of the conference’s hottest teams.
Many players had standout performances from Bethel, including Carmelo Yakubu, a junior from Houston who led the charge for Bethel with a game-high 28 points, shooting an impressive 11-of-16 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. Eli Wiseman, a senior from Belle Plain, added 14 points, knocking down two three-pointers and providing key leadership on both ends of the court. Harper Jonas, a senior from Andover, chipped in 15 points, going a perfect 5-of-5 from beyond the arc. Lastly, the sophomore from Round Rock, Tex., Cade Kittrell also tallied 15 points and grabbed five rebounds to round out the Threshers’ top performers.
Bethel maintained their dominance in the second half, extending the lead to as much as 20 points. The offense continued to click, with the team finishing the game shooting 65.5% from the field and 55.6% from three-point range.
Defensively, Bethel held Ottawa to 50.9% shooting and forced 13 turnovers, which the Threshers converted into 21 points. Bethel also edged out Ottawa on the boards with a slight 26-25 advantage.
“We understand that we’re probably the hottest team in the conference at this point, but we can’t get complacent and get bored with doing the little things,” said Head Coach Jayson Artaz. “High energy in practice, execution of our game plans, and maximum energy in games with fantastic cohesiveness—that’s what we need to keep doing.”
Inside the numbers, Bethel’s offense remained unstoppable in the second half, stretching their lead to as much as 20 points. Shooting 65.5% from the field and 55.6% from deep for the game, the Threshers showcased their firepower and poise against a struggling Ottawa defense.
They also controlled the paint, outscoring the Braves 34-26 down low, and maintained a slight edge on the boards with a 26-25 rebounding advantage.
Bethel is currently sitting in 4th place in the KCAC and they will attempt to overtake the current 2nd place team, Friends. Last time out, the Threshers came up just short against the Falcons with a score of 76-74. The Threshers travel to Wichita this Wednesday, Jan. 22nd at 8:00 p.m. to take on the Falcons.