STEVENS POINT, Wis. – In its first top-25 challenge of the week the Bethel University men's basketball team knocked off previously unbeaten and No. 18-ranked Wisconsin-Stevens Point 64-46 Wednesday evening on the road.

Eight of the nine Royals that saw action found the scoring column extending Bethel's win streak to three games. The 6-2 Royals have themselves another top-25 matchup, this time on their own court hosting No. 10 and unbeaten Wisconsin-Platteville Saturday at 1 p.m.

A strong first half performance by Isaiah Carver-Bagley led the junior forward to a game-high 15 points. Senior guard Granger Kingland had his second straight double-double performance with 14 points and 12 rebounds which was one shy of his career high. Senior Jack Jenson rounded out the top scorers with 12 points.

Things could not have clicked any better than they did in the second half. Coming out of the break in a hostile environment with a seven point lead, BU had its defense tested with the Pointers pulling within three on two occasions. The Royals responded with an 11-2 run that ended with a layup from Kingland – who scored seven points during the run – at the 12:17 mark.

Noah Whalen knocked down his second three of the game putting it out of reach from UWSP at 51-36 with just over eight minutes to go. The Royals lock down defense allowed the Pointers to get no closer than 13 while a 3-pointer from Kingland with under two minutes to go gave BU its largest lead of the contest at 62-44.

Neither team held a lead greater than three until the 8:10 mark in the first half where Carver-Bagley knocked down his first of three long balls in the opening 20 minutes. UWSP got back within one before the Royals went on an 10-4 run through the final four minutes taking a 31-24 lead into the break.

Bethel's defense held the Pointers to 1-of-20 from behind the arc and 31 percent (18-of-58) from the field. 

Story by Austin Lagesse, Bethel University Assistant Sports Information Director