Thresher men downed by Jets

By Mark Schnabel
Newton Kansan
WICHITA — The Bethel College men’s basketball team just didn’t have the guns to keep up with Newman University, falling to the NCAA Division II team 77-50 Wednesday at Fugate Gym in Wichita.
Newman improves to 2-0, both wins over Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference teams.
Bethel falls to 1-3.
“I’m so disappointed with the turnovers we had,” Bethel coach Mark Yoder said. “We just didn’t take care of it. I didn’t think it was anything they did. They shot the lights out. I was disappointed in our defense. We talked at halftime about taking their 3-point shot away and making them beat us from the inside, and we obviously didn’t do that. We outrebounded them. I’m happy with that.”
The difference in the game was 3-point shooting, where Bethel was four of 13 and Newman was 11 for 21. Newman was 30 of 59 from the field while Bethel was 19 of 45, 10 of 26 in the second half.
Chip Steven led Newman with 16 points, hitting four of eight from outside the arc. Keaton Schultz hit three of six from outside, finishing with 12 points. Jake Darby scored 11 points.
Bethel was led by Brody Grove off the bench with 12 points and five rebounds. Grove was two for four from outside the arc. Justin Schnieder finished with 11 points.
Bethel was just eight of 13 from the line. Sophomore Eric Regier came off the bench, hitting six of six from the line. Bethel held a 32-29 rebounding edge.
Bethel was without starting guard John Watson III because of an ankle injury. Watson is expected to play this weekend.
Bethel jumped out 9-5 in the first 4:26 of play. Up 15-12, the Threshers gave up an 8-0 run aided by a pair of treys. Bethel took a time out, but gave up eight more points before Grove hit a trey with 2:30 left in the half. Regier hit a pair of free throws with 21.7 seconds left in the half to get Bethel back within seven, 29-22.
The Threshers managed just five points in the final 9:48 of the first half. Bethel was called for nine fouls in the first half to six for Newman. The margin was 9-4 against the Threshers going into the final minute.
Newman opened the second half with a 10-1 run. Newman led by as many as 29 in the second half. Bethel got as close as 15, but turnovers allowed Newman to pull away down the stretch.
“We just have so much more growing to do,” Yoder said. “It will be nice to get Matt (Regier) back next week (from the football team).”
Bethel plays across the street at 6 p.m. Friday against Bacone College in the Friends Classic, followed by NAIA Division II national champion Oklahoma Wesleyan Saturday. Bacone, an NAIA Division I school, received a point in the NAIA I top 25. Bacone is 1-1 with a three-point win over NAIA Division II runner-up College of the Ozarks, and a five-point loss to NAIA Division I.
“Bacone is a very good team,” Yoder said. “... You hope to get a win down there just to get your spirits up. Last year, we played Oklahoma Wesleyan to within five. You never know. That’s why we play them.”
BETHEL (1-3) — Benton 0-5 0-0 0, Schneider 5-8 0-0 11, Gingerich 2-4 0-0 5, Sullivan 2-5 1-2 5, Ronnebaum 2-9 1-2 5, Riggs 0-1 0-0 0, Regier 0-0 6-6 6, Bumgarner 0-0 0-2 0, Wright 1-2 0-0 2, Watson 0-0 0-0 0, Grove 5-7 0-0 12, Baldia 0-1 0-0 0, Cummins 2-3 0-1 4, Yunker 0-0 0-0 0, TOTALS 19-45 8-13 50.
NEWMAN (2-0) — Mathews 2-4 1-1 5, Berry 3-5 3-6 8, Darby 5-11 0-1 11, Schultz 4-8 1-1 12, Steven 6-10 0-0 16, Honore 2-6 0-0 4, Nordman 1-2 0-0 3, Trilli 0-0 0-0 0, Arel 2-3 0-0 6, Mesh 0-0 0-0 0, Northington 2-4 0-0 4, Mokeski 0-1 0-0 0, Brumbelow 2-3 1-2 5, Hansen 1-2 1-2 3, TOTALS 30-59 6-13 77.
Bethel    22    28    —50
Newman    29    48    —77
Total fouls — BC 16, NU 14. 3-point shooting — BC 4-13 (Schneider 1-1, Gingerich 1-2, Sullivan 0-2, Ronnebaum 0-2, Riggs 0-1, Grove 2-4, Cummins 0-1), NU 11-21 (Darby 1-2, Schultz 3-6, Steven 4-8, Nordman 1-2, Arel 2-3). Rebounds — BC 32 (Grove 5), NU 29 (Mathews 5). Assists — BC 7 (Gingerich 7), NU 17 (Darby 5). Turnovers — BC 20 (Sullivan 5, Ronnebaum 5), NU 14 (Darby 3). Blocked shots — BC 2 (Benton 1, Cummins 1), NU 6 (Mathews 3). Steals — BC 3 (Cummins 2), NU 13 (Mathews 3, Darby 3). Officials — Martinez, Norris, Zimmerman. Attendance — 244.