MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats opened their men's basketball season Wednesday night with a 99-71 loss to the St. Thomas Bobcats at Crisp Arena.
St. Thomas connected on 14 three-pointers and shot 53 percent from the field to move to 1-0. Bethel fell to 0-1.
The Bobcats built a 51-36 halftime advantage and outscored the Wildcats 48-35 in the second half. St. Thomas led for all but 38 seconds and stretched its advantage to as many as 35 points.
Jalen Anglin paced Bethel with 15 points. Alonzo Rhodes Jr. and Ethan Turner added 10 points apiece.
Zyier Beverly led St. Thomas with 24 points, followed by Brandon Moore with 21 and Nigle Cook with 20. The trio combined for 65 points.
Bethel finished 26-of-64 from the floor for 40.6 percent, including 4-of-22 from three-point range. The Wildcats made 15-of-22 free throws.
St. Thomas went 35-of-66 from the field and 14-of-29 from beyond the arc for 48.3 percent. The Bobcats converted 15-of-25 at the foul line.
The Bobcats held a narrow 33-32 rebounding edge, while Bethel collected 10 offensive rebounds to St. Thomas' five.