Thresher men's basketball snaps Saint Mary's 10-game win streak and undefeated KCAC play stint
The Bethel men avenged their earlier in the season loss to the Spires with a dominant 75-57 win led by Yakubu and Wiseman
The Bethel College men’s basketball team delivered a 75-57 win over Saint Mary on Saturday evening in Thresher Gym. The victory, fueled by standout performances from Carmelo Yakubu, the star man from Houston, and Eli Wiseman, a senior from Belle Plain, improved the Threshers’ record to 10-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play, while handing the Spires their first KCAC loss of the season and ending their 10-game win streak.
Yakubu led the charge with 19 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, putting on a clinic at the free-throw line with a perfect 9-for-9 performance. Wiseman chipped in 16 points, including three triples, while the 6’4 guard from Andover, Harper Jonas, provided key contributions on the boards with seven rebounds.
In their previous match-up and the Threshers’ first KCAC game this season, that took place on Nov. 16th, the Spires best Bethel 84-72. The exact opposite was the case in Thresher Gym on Saturday. So, what changed since then?
“We just wanted to get better,” said Head Coach Jayson Artaz. “Being able to really be in the gym and focus on improving on the defensive side of the ball has helped a lot. We’ve also done a better job of caring for the ball so we don’t give away easy points. Those things are huge for us.”
With a combined 25 points from Yakubu and Wiseman in the first period, Bethel set the tone early and led 42-26 at the break. Saint Mary was forced to make difficult shots by the Threshers' strong defense, and they regularly took advantage of second-chance opportunities thanks to their total 47-27 rebounding advantage.
“Melo has played really well lately,” Artaz noted. “He’s done a very good job of getting the ball downhill for paint touches while also making the right pass when scoring isn’t there. We need him to continue to get even better through the rest of the year for us to make big jumps.”
In the second half, Saint Mary tried to rally, briefly reducing Bethel's advantage to 13, but the Threshers' depth was too powerful. The Bethel bench gave the Spires a 30–18 scoring advantage over their opponents, and a well-balanced offensive approach and timely saves made sure they never drew closer.
Coach Artaz emphasized the importance of contributions from the entire roster, saying, “I think we can still continue to get better and would love to see our bench continue to step up. The depth they gave us against Saint Mary is what we need the rest of the year. We can’t let our recent success make us complacent. We have to keep getting better and be locked in every day.”
With momentum building, the Threshers hit the road on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to face Tabor College in a well-known rivalry match up for Bethel. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m., directly after the women’s game, as Bethel looks to extend their winning streak and solidify their place in the KCAC standings.