Second Half Shooting Woes Cost Wildcats in Williamsburg

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The Bethel Wildcats led 34-33 at the University of the Cumberlands Saturday afternoon but a poor shooting second half cost the Cats as they fell 71- 58 to the Patriots.  The Wildcats shot just 22 percent in the half and fell to 10-6 overall and 2-6 in the MSC. Cumberlands improved to 12-5 and 6-3. The 58 points scored marked a season low for the Wildcats.

It was also the first time on the season Bethel has loss after leading at halftime.

Pick your storyline for the first half. The Wildcats held UC without a field goal in the first five minutes and led 8-2. The Patriots used a 18-2 run to grab a 20-10 lead midway of the half but Bethel righted the ship with a 24-13 run and led at 34-33 at halftime.

Balanced scoring proved to be a key for the Wildcats in the half. John Brown had eight points. Yassine Zlitni came off the Wildcats bench with six key points. Jarred Walker, Drew Thomas, and Hayden Thomas scored five each. Kamron Rose pitched in with four tallies and six rebounds while Jamarius Mayberry had two points.

Brown hit the first basket of the second half to give Bethel a 36-33 margin, but UC scored 10 unanswered to grab a 43-33 margin. Bethel would go five minutes without a field goal and in the end, it would prove to be too much to overcome for the Cats. The Pats outscored Bethel 38-24 in the last twenty minutes.

The Patriots shot 44 percent while Bethel finished at a season low 28 percent. The two teams struggled from the outside hitting just eight of 43 attempts from deep.

Each squad had 46 rebounds. Rose led Bethel with 11 rebounds while Drew Thomas had nine boards.

Brown led Bethel with 12 points. Drew Thomas had eight points.  Steve Fitzgerald led the Pats with a game high 14 points. 

Bethel will host No. 13 Thomas More Thursday and Shawnee State Saturday. The games mark the first of four straight home games. The Cats play eight home games the remainder of the season. The Lady Cats are 113-34 all-time in Crisp Arena.

Watch for Game Previews later at www.bethelathletics.com