Wildcats Clip Eagles with Saturday Home Win
MCKENZIE, Tenn. –The Bethel Wildcats used a sizzling first half from the floor shooting 59 percent in their 80-61 victory over the Williams Baptist Eagles Saturday afternoon in Crisp Arena. The Wildcats moved to 5-1 on the season. WBU suffered their second straight loss and dropped to 5-2. The contest marked the 150th game the Wildcats have played in Crisp Arena. Bethel is 115-35 in the building.
The Wildcats knocked down seven of their nine threes in the first 20 minutes and led at the break 52-25. The Cat defense held WBU to just 32 percent from the field in the half.
Bethel would finish 27-of-60 from the floor at 45 percent. The Eagles were 26-of-72 at 36 percent. The Wildcats won the battle of the boards at 44-26. They held the Eagles who entered the game as the 2nd best offensive rebounding team in the nation to 11 on the night. Bethel never trailed in the contest.
Four Wildcats finished in double figures. Jamarius Mayberry had a double -double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Hayden Thomas had four three pointers and finished with 13 points. Jon Brown scored 10 and collected seven boards. Kamron Rose came off the Wildcats bench and was solid with 10 points and nine rebounds. Twelve different Wildcats scored in the game.
WBU's Shackeel Butters had a game high with 22 points.
The Walker Watch:
Bethel senior guard Jarred Walker recorded five assists in the game giving him 368 in his career. He is 12th in program history. Jarred had three steals which moved him to 187 in his career which is 6th in the Wildcat record book.
Jon Brown adds to Career Total:
After scoring 10 points Bethel's Jon Brown has 1, 070 career points.
Coach Jeff Britt said, "We got off to a great start behind the shooting of Hayden and Jamarius. They both have good strokes and are valuable to our success. We knew coming in we would have to play well because WBU is a good team. They are a good rebounding squad, so it was big we won the battle of the glass. Our bench contributed again, and we need that night in night out." Britt added, "We have a couple of days to prepare for as always a tough MSC road trip against two tough opponents."
Bethel jumps back into MSC action Thursday night as they travel to Georgetown. They follow that with a game at Campbellsville Saturday afternoon. Watch for Wildcat Game Notes and media coverage links for both the Cats and Lady Cats this week preceding the road trip.
