Cats Host Running Eagles Saturday at Crisp
MCKENZIE, Tenn. –The Bethel Wildcats return home for the first time since November 27 when they play host to the Life University Running Eagles Saturday at 4 p.m. The Eagles are 3-7 and 0-5. Life has dropped seven straight games. Bethel had a four-game winning streak snapped with a loss at UTS Thursday night in Pulaski.
Series:
It will be only the second meeting ever between the two programs. Bethel edged the Eagles 80-79 back in 2018 in McKenzie.
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.
Last Time Out:
Bethel
The 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.
With the loss, Coach Jeff Britt remains 10 wins away from career victory number 500.
LU:
Life found itself down by only a single point going into the halftime break at Mid-South Conference foe Freed-Hardeman Thursday , but poor defensive play and the Lions' second half, 64 point offensive explosion saw the Running Eagles fade late for the 98-81 loss.
Last Meeting:
Bethel edged the Eagles 80-79 back in 2018 in McKenzie.
Cat Scratches:
The Wildcats are averaging 78.8 points per outing. They yield 67.5.
Jon Brown leads Bethel is scoring at 11.7 points per game. Jamarius Mayberry follows at 11.2. Drew Thomas pops in 11.0 while Kam Rose averages 10.4 per game.
The Walker Watch:
Jarred Walker has 384 assists which is 11th all-time in program history. He is 5th all-time in steals with 197.
Jon Brown adds to Career Total:
Combining his play at West Florida and Bethel, Jon Brown is a member of the 1,000 Point Club with 1, 134 career points. Brown has scored 274 as a Wildcat.
Coach Jeff Britt- Countdown to 500:
Jeff Britt is in his 22nd year as the head men's basketball coach at Bethel University and his 33rd year as a college basketball coach. His record as a head coach is 490-333 and includes 11 seasons with 20-plus wins. Britt is 384-290 at Bethel.
Former West Tennessee prep all-state performer at Trenton Peabody, Kevin Easley is in his fourth season with the Eagles.
Media coverage & Links:
Official Game Day Notes:
https://bethelathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/2021-22_Men-s_Basketball_Game_Notes_-_Dec._18.pdf
Video stream:
https://bethelathletics.com/WildcatStreaming
Stat link:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/boxscores/20211218_k5nd.xml
Radio Link: WEIO, 100.9
https://streamdb6web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WEIO