Bison Men's Basketball Locks Down Muskingum

Nov. 24 – BETHANY, W. Va. – The Bethany men's basketball team used a solid defensive effort, as well as an all-around team performance, to defeat Muskingum University, 81-73, on Tuesday evening in the Hummel Field House.

The Bison (2-2) never trailed in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, eventually pushing their lead out to double digits (18-8) midway through the half to force a Muskie timeout. It was senior Darrian Bruster (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic) who answered the call early, outscoring the Muskies 10-8 by himself over the first nine minutes.

Bruster opened the game with a three pointer, and, after the Muskies had trimmed a Bethany advantage to one points (9-8), scored seven of the team's next nine points, including five straight. The senior forward bookended the run with another three, giving the home team a ten-point advantage.

Muskingum would respond in the half, cutting back into the Bethany lead to pull within a basket at 18-16 with 8:46 to play. Bethany, however, would have another response, using a 10-1 run to reopen the lead to 11 points (28-17). Five different Bison tallied a bucket in the run, including a three from Alan Harper (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic).

In the final minute of the half, another Bruster three would push the Bethany advantage to 12 points (33-21). The, following a three by Muskingum's Brendan Matthews, Bethany's Andrew Williams (Oil City, Pa./Oil City) connected on a three of his own, giving the Green & White a 36-24 lead. A pair of late Muskingum free throws would trim the lead to 10 and the Bison went into the locker room up 36-26.

The Bethany defense went into lock-down mode in the opening half, holding the high-powered Muskingum offense, which came into the game averaging 90 points per contest, to just 26 points and 26 percent shooting in the opening frame.

The Muskies made the game tight in the early minutes of the second half, using a 13-4 run to cut a 12-point Bison lead down to three with 14:55 to play in regulation. The Green & White would get the lead back out to six (47-41) on a jumper by Travon Cotton (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage), before another five-point run by the visitors cut the advantage to just one, 47-46 with just under 13 to play.

Freshman guard Jalen Paige would give Muskingum their first lead of the game with a pair of free throws at the 11:56 mark, but the lead was short lived for the guests as they could muster no more than a one-point advantage throughout.

Still trailing by a point (52-51), Bethany used an 8-2 run to take a five-point lead. A three by Harper gave the Green & White a lead which they would not relinquish. Bruster then followed with a layup, which was immediately trailed by a steal and fast-break score by Harper. The layup also resulted in a three-point play opportunity, which Harper converted on, to give him six points in the run.

The Bison would continue to pad their lead in the closing minutes, pushing the advantage back out to double digits. Following a three-pointer by Muskingum's Jacob Geller, the Bison immediately responded with a 7-0 run, including a two-handed dunk by Bruster. Antonio Rudolph (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) added four points to the cause and the Green & White found themselves leading by nine (66-57) with 2:19 to play.

That run proved to be enough as the Bison converted on seven of their final eight free throws during the final minute of play to preserve an eight-point victory, 81-73.

Individually, Bethany was led by a 20-point performance from Bruster. The senior led the way, shooting an efficient 8-of-13 from the field, including knocking down three triples. The 20 points by Bruster marked the first time that any Bison has hit the 20-point plateau this season.

As has been the key for Bethany this season, four players in total reached double digits in the game, with seven players tallying at least four points. Jones finished the day with 19 points, including hitting 7-of-8 from the charity stripe, while Harper finished with 13 off the bench. Williams added 10 and Rudolph pitched in with eight points, while leading the team in rebounds with 10.

Overall, the Green & White forced the Muskies into 18 team turnovers, collected nine steals. The Bison were led by a game-high three from Bruster, while seven different players totaled at least one pilfer.

Offensively, the Green & White flexed their muscles in the second half, getting into the paint early and often in order to shoot 57 percent to close out the game. Bethany outscored the Muskies 24-16 in the second half in the paint, to give them a 34-30 advantage, overall.

Bethany will be back in action on Wednesday, December 2, as they travel to Latrobe, Pa. to open Presidents' Athletic Conference play against Saint Vincent College. The matchup with the Bearcats is scheduled to follow the women's game, which begins at 5:30 p.m.