RIVER FALLS, Wis.—Bethel University's men's basketball team concluded an unforgettable season in perhaps the most unforgettable way, as the Royals fell in double overtime to No. 4-ranked UW-River Falls by a final score of 94-92.
BU's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991 looked a little bleak in the opening half, as they trailed the hosting Falcons 39-29 at the intermission break. But the Royals opened the second frame on an 11-2 run and everyone was on pins and needles for the final 27 minutes.
UW-River Falls opened up a five-point lead with 5:09 remaining in regulation, but Bethel went on a 5-0 run and knotted the game back at 63-63. BU then pulled ahead 71-69 with 10 seconds remaining, but a whistle on the Royals with 0:00 on the clock allowed the Falcons' Alex Herink to record the game-saving free throws that sent it into overtime.
Alex Herink sinks the second of two free throws at the end of regulation to send UW-River Falls to overtime vs. Bethel.
Photo by Ryan Coleman, d3photography.com
Bethel led throughout the entire first overtime, including an 80-76 advantage with 1:31 remaining. But that's when the legs started to go and the fatigue sunk in. BU missed a pair of free throws and then surrendered four points to the Falcons in the final 54 seconds that sent Friday's classic to double overtime.
The Royals still didn't relinquish their lead until there was 1:42 remaining, but a 5-0 run for UW-River Falls over the next minute-plus proved to be too much for BU down the stretch. Bethel had a game-tying 3-pointer rim out with eight seconds remaining and the rest is history.
BU outrebounded the Falcons 43-40 and finished the game shooting 49.3 percent from the floor, compared to UW-RF who shot 41.5 percent. Perhaps the biggest difference, however, was Bethel's 17-of-22 performance from the foul line compared to the Falcons, who finished 33-of-45 from the charity stripe. The Royals outscored UW-River falls 52-38 in the paint, but the Falcons edged BU 11-5 in second-chance points.
Bethel's starting five gave an extraordinary performance throughout Friday's NCAA opener. Derek Magnuson led BU in both points and rebounds with 25 points and 10 boards in 44 minutes played. Right behind him was Trevor Hall, who closed out his career with 17 points, nine rebounds, and two steals in 40 minutes.
Bridgeport Tusler and Brycen Wojta each scored 16, while Tusler added five rebounds and four assists in 47 minutes played and Wojta contributed six assists and five boards in his career finale. Granger Kingland also scored in double figures and led BU in minutes played, posting 15 points and three rebounds in 48 minutes played—all while defending the Falcons' best player.
Herink led UW-River Falls with a game-high 32 points and 11 rebounds in 44 minutes, while center Garret Pearson tallied 29 points and seven boards after starting the game 5-of-6 from outside the arc.
Bethel's 2016-17 campaign comes to a close, but not without a share of the program's first-ever MIAC regular-season championship and the team's second MIAC playoff title. The Royals say goodbye to seniors Brycen Wojta and Trevor Hall, who have collectively helped BU finish with a 72-37 (.661) record over their four-year career—the best by any class.