Nov 20, 2012
In a game that saw 50 fouls called and 75 free throws attempted, the Bethany College men's basketball team outlasted Muskingum for a 97-87 victory Tuesday night in a non-conference tilt.
The back-and-forth contest, which featured 11 ties and 11 lead changes, saw the teams light up the scoreboard in a hot-shooting first half. The Bison (2-1) knocked down 50 percent of their shots from the floor, including 4-of-8 from the arc, as they led by as many as seven.
The Muskies (0-3), who drained 7-of-11 from the arc in hitting 52 percent from the field, rallied back with a 12-4 run to take a 47-45 lead, but jumpers from junior Devon Braswell and senior James Barton and a free throw by senior Nick Wilcox lifted BC back into the lead at 50-47 going into halftime.
The lead switched hands numerous times between the teams for more than 10 minutes of the second half. Muskingum held a 69-68 advantage with nine minutes to play when Bethany seized control with a 12-0 run, which featured a pair of buckets from Barton and a three-pointer from junior Leslie Addy. After a Wilcox lay-in with 3:47 to play gave the Green and White an 84-73 lead, the Bison did not hit another field goal the rest of the game. But Bethany was able to put the game away by sinking 13-of-16 from the free throw line down the stretch.
The Bison put four scorers in double digits in the victory, led by Wilcox. He recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds and added four steals and three assists. Barton fired in 17 as well, senior Brady Pacific hit for 16 and senior Reece Mabery had 14 markers and four assists.
The Muskies were spearheaded by Dave Brown, who knocked down six three-pointers and went 10-for-10 from the foul line for a game-high 32 points, and Phil Ellis, who dropped in 12 off the bench.
Bethany will return from the Thanksgiving break Saturday by hosting Penn State-Fayette at 3 p.m.