Wildcats Suffer Tough Loss at Tennessee Southern

PULASKI, Tenn. –The Bethel Wildcats scored a season low 62 points and fell to Tennessee Southern 69-62 Thursday night in Pulaski. The loss snapped a four game Bethel winning streak.  The Wildcats dropped to 9-4 overall and 1-4 in the MSC. The FireHawks improved to 9-3 and 4-1. It was the fourth straight win for the Hawks.

The Cats got off to a slow start trailing 14-0 after the first six minutes of the game. Behind the red-hot shooting of Jamarius Mayberry, the Cats battled back and took a 28-24 lead with six minutes left in the half. Bethel would go on to lead 38-34 at the break. Mayberry had 16 points in the half. Jon Brown pitched in with eight first half points. Bethel's board work was a factor in the comeback. The Wildcats had a 21-11 rebound advantage in the first twenty minutes. 

Bethel led 41-38 with 17 minutes left in the game. UTS outscored the Cats 16-4 and grabbed a 54-45 margin with eight minutes left. Mayberry, Brown, and Jarred Walker pulled the Cats to within 54-53 with six minutes remaining. The Hawks countered and took a 61 -53 lead with four minutes left. Bethel rallied and cut it to 61-60 with two left. UTS would outscore Bethel 8-2 to win by seven. 

UTS had a 25-12 advantage in bench points. The Hawks shot 48 percent from the floor while Bethel shot 35 percent from the field.

Mayberry had a game high 21 points. Brown finished with 14.

Adarion Hudson led UTS with 19 points.

With the loss, Coach Jeff Britt remains 10 wins away from career victory number 500.

The Wildcats are back in action Saturday at 4 p.m. hosting Life University.

A Day to Help:

The Bethel University Sports Information Office announced earlier this week the entire athletic department is seeking your help. Assistant Sports Information Director Austin Childress is from Kentucky and is looking to take various items to those in need in Mayfield and others in his home state. The athletic department staff also has friends and relatives in Dresden, Tennessee, Kenton, Tennessee and other surrounding towns and cities in West Tennessee and Western Kentucky. The items will be taken to organizations for distribution in those area.

Items can also be dropped off at the gate before the doubleheader against Life. 

IN LIEU OF THE EFFORTS TO ASSIST, THERE WILL BE NO ADMISSION CHARGE FOR THE GAMES. DONATIONS OF ANY TYPE WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE GATE. 

Media coverage & Links:

Video stream:

https://bethelathletics.com/WildcatStreaming

Stat link:

https://bethelathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2021-22/boxscores/20211209_aisj.xml

Radio Link: WEIO, 100.9

https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO