The Saint Vincent men's basketball team dropped to 9-1 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference following a 56-53 loss to Bethany College in the Carey Center.

The game started off competitive and closely contested.  The Bearcats got up early with a layup by Pat Jones; however, the score was followed by a Bethany score.  This was the games theme early on, until the 16:25 mark, when Jones nailed a three to give Saint Vincent a 9-5 lead.  Following the score, the Bearcats got the ball back and drove down the court on a fast break which set up Jones for a layup to further SVC's lead to 11-5.
 
After a Bethany timeout, the Bison started to make up some ground.  With 12:08 remaining, the Bison cut the Bearcats' lead down to four points, 17-13.  Later, Bethany stole the ball and drove down the court to score on a layup putting the Bison within two points of the Bearcats.
 
Bethany stayed within four all the way until the 4:16 mark, whenever Jaylon Bell stole the ball and drove down the court and hit a layup, putting the Bearcats up 25-19.
 
SVC maintained control for the remainder of the half only giving up six more points in the remaining four minutes. 
 
Prior to the end of the half, the Bearcats scored a trio of threes, two by Jaylon Bell and one by Geoff FuQuay.  At the conclusion of the first half, Saint Vincent had a lead of 34-25.
 
Early in the second half, a dunk and free throw by Austin Dedert extended the Bearcats' lead to 10, resulting in a Bison  timeout.  Once play resumed, Bethany went on a nine-point run, taking the lead 43-41 at the midway point of the second half.
 
SVC regained the lead with a three by JC Howard and would later increase their lead to six following scores by Jones, Howard, and Sean Kett. 
 
Following a Bethany timeout, the Bison went on a ten-point run, giving them the lead 55-51 with 1:09 remaining.  Once the Bearcats regained possession, Howard cut Bethany's lead to two with a 15-foot jumper.
 
After a Bethany travel, SVC looked to tie the game.  However, the Bearcats lost the ball and could not capitalize on the opportunity.  With only 9.1 seconds left this was SVC's last chance to get the ball back.  The Bearcats were pressuring hard; however the Bison were able to get the ball down the court forcing SVC to foul.  Bethany made one of the two free throws still giving SVC a chance for a quick three to tie the game.
 
The Bearcats inbounded the ball and called a quick timeout, which gave them 2.8 seconds to get the ball in and get off a quick shot.  Once the game resumed, the ball ended up in Kett's hands and he put up a deep three that came up just short of the rim.
 
As a result, SVC fell to Bethany 56-53 in a highly contested, defensive game.  The Bearcats' record fell to 13-5 overall on the season and gave them their first conference loss.
 
Bethany improved to 10-8 overall, 5-4 in the PAC.
 
Kett led the Bearcats, scoring 15 points, just ahead of Howard, who added 13, and Jones who had 9.  On defense, Bell recorded 4 steals in the game leading SVC.  Bethany's Darrian Bruster recorded 14 total points while Delonte' Joyce recorded 13 points as well as a game high 9 steals.
 
The Bearcats have a week off before traveling to Geneva College on Saturday (January 31) for a 3PM tipoff.