Threshers Rally Late to Top Eagles

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Avila men's basketball raced out to a double-digit lead thanks to clinical perimeter shooting in the first half, but Bethel (11-8, 9-5 KCAC) managed to mount a late comeback to rally and escape with a 79-76 victory over the Eagles (4-16, 3-12 KCAC) on Monday night.

The Eagles pieced together perhaps their best shooting performance of the season in the first half Monday, knocking down 11 three-pointers and shooting 53% from the field and 61% from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes. Seven different Eagles cashed in from downtown at least once in the half, powering the Eagles to impressive opening period.

Bethel led 10-5 in the early stages before Tyree King scored five straight points to level the score. Shortly thereafter, Jared Larson hit threes on back to back possessions, vaulting Avila in front 18-11 and forcing a Thresher timeout.

The Eagles weren't done: leading 20-15, three different Eagles knocked down threes to help Avila reel off the next 11 points. Bethel got back to within 10 points around the six minute mark, but the Eagles kept their distance thanks to a mini scoring run from Eric Smith Jr. and deep balls from Jaylin Dinkins and Brandon Johnson.

That helped Avila build a 51-36 lead at the halftime break, and the Eagles swiftly extended that lead to 18 a minute into the second half thanks to another three-pointer from King. But that's when Bethel started to make a move. The Eagles have come back from down double digits multiple times this season, but this time they fell victim to a rally of their own.

After King's shot put Avila up 18, the Threshers scored seven straight, prompting an Avila timeout. Buckets from King and Smith helped Avila stem the tide, but only for a moment: after a dismal first half the ever-dangerous Bryant Mocaby started to heat up midway through the second, pulling Bethel back within five points.

Craig Jordan made a couple of clutch shots to keep the Eagles ahead before back to back buckets from Carmelo Yakubu finally tied the game at 67 with under nine minutes to play. Then in the final five minutes, it was back and forth action. Buckets from Donte' Simpson and Smith put Avila up 75-73 before Bethel countered with four straight to go back in front. Avila missed a game-tying free throw with under two minutes left, and after Clifford Byrd made two foul shots to extend the lead to three the Eagles missed their chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, allowing Bethel to walk away with the 79-76 victory.

Yakubu was strong against the Eagles once again in a more featured role, leading all players with 20 points on 80% shooting, while both Byrd and Mocaby scored 15. King drained four threes to pace the Eagles with 18 points, while Smith Jr. added in 17 points and six boards.