MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The (RV) Bethel Wildcats returned home Thursday to host Faulkner. It was the first of five straight home games for the Cats.
Bethel clipped the Eagles 93-78 to move 15- 5 overall and 9 -3 in the SSAC. The Cats have won eleven of their last thirteen outings. The Eagles dropped to 12-8 and 4-6. They have lost eight of their last ten and are 3-5 in road games this season. Faulkner defeated Bethel 93-73 in Montgomery in late November.
It was the 10th meeting between the two programs with the series tied now at 5-5. Bethel has a 4-2 advantage in games played in McKenzie.
Bethel is 9 - 3 at home on the year. Bethel is 78-26 all-time in Crisp Arena. The Cats are 6-2 in road games. The Wildcats are 55-39 all-time versus SSAC opponents.
The Cats led 37-31 at the half and outscored the visitors from Montgomery 56-47 in the second half.
The Wildcats played without their leading scorer in Isaac Edmondson (18.2) who sat out the game due to illness. Five players scored in double figures for Bethel with Chase Nappier leading the attack with 25 points. He also had six rebounds and three assists. Charles Cobb had 13 points. Cayden Edmonson had a double-double with 11 points and ten rebounds. Noah Chatman and Foday Sankaray each scored 10 points and combined for 17 rebounds. Milan Skundric led the Eagles with 30 points.
Bethel is 9-0 when scoring 90 or more points in a game. They average 90.3 points per game which is 11th in the country. Bethel had a 52-39 advantage in rebounding. The Wildcats average 42 rebounds while the opponents average just 31 per game. That rebound margin is second best in the nation.
The Wildcats are 14-2 when they lead at halftime. They are 1-3 when they trail at the break.
Bethel is 12-3 when they out rebound their opponents. They are 1-1 when out rebounded. The Cats are 2-1 when tied in rebounds.
The Cats are 12-0 when they outshoot their opponents and 3-5 when outshot.
Bethel is 6-1 when they make more three-pointers in a game. The Cats are 9-4 when the opponents make more three pointers in a game.
Bethel is 9-1 when they make more free throws in a game. They are 4-4 when the opponent makes more and 2-0 when tied in charity tosses made.
The Wildcats are 11-2 when they have less turnovers per outing. They are 3-3 when the opponents make less and 1-0 when tied in turnovers.
Bethel is 8-4 in night games and 7-1 in day affairs.
The Cats are 15-4 when three or more players score in double figures.
The Wildcats have scored 80 or more points in 18 of their 20 games this season.
Coach Jeff Britt said his team showed a lot of grit. "We are happy with the win tonight. Coach Sanderson does a super job there and has had to make some changes. We feel good about this one, especially playing without Isaac. We battled and played hard. I thought Chase took charge of the game in the second half and that was a big key."
Coach Britt is in his 19th year at Bethel and is 337-235. He is 446-297 in his 28 -year coaching career. Britt is 10th among active NAIA coaches.
The Wildcats host Middle Georgia State Saturday at 4 p.m. The Knights are 12-5 overall and 7-5 in league action. It will be the eighth meeting between the two programs with Bethel holding a 4-3 margin in the series. The series is tied at 1-1 in games played in McKenzie.
Fans can listen to the action on WEIO, 100.9 and at www.thefarmradio.com.
Live video:
http://www.bethelathletics.com/WildcatVision
Live stats:
http://www.dakstats.com/Websync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10
Live audio:
https://www.thefarmradio.com/
WLJT-TV will also cover the game with replays scheduled for Saturday at 10 p.m. and Sunday at 11 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 26 at 10:00 p.m. / Sun., Jan. 27 at 11:00 p.m.
