Cats Head North to Battle No. 16 Thomas More

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. -The Bethel Wildcats travel to Crestview Hills, Kentucky Thursday night to face the No. 16 Thomas More Saints. Tip-off in the Connor Convocation Center is at 6:30 p.m. CST 

The Wildcats are coming off a thrilling two overtime 95-88 win over then No. 14 ranked Freed-Hardeman. Bethel is 13-10 overall and 9-9 in the Mid-South Conference.

The Saints have won five in a row and are 19-5 and 13-5. TMU is 10-1 at home on the season.

The two squads met earlier in the season in McKenzie. In a game that featured 18 ties and 18 lead changes, the Wildcats lost an overtime heartbreaker to the then ranked No. 2 Thomas More Saints in December in Crisp Arena. The Saints outscored the Cats 11-8 in the overtime to win 84-81. The teams finished regulation tied at 73 all.

Bethel shot 54 percent from the floor but struggled from the free throw line hitting just 16-of-32 attempts from the line. Bethel had a 54-28 margin in points in the paint and a 40- 14 advantage in points of the bench.

TMU shot 46 percent and finished with seven made three-pointers. The Saints hit 17-of-27 free throw attempts.

Bethel placed five players in double figures. Joe Nazario led the Cats with 15 points and eight rebounds. A J Burnett came off the bench with 14 points. Conner Guthrie finished with 13 tallies. Latrell Carter was solid with 12 points and six boards. Querrion Gadson scored ten points.

TMU had four players finish in double digits. Reid Jolly had a game high 31 points for the Saints.

It will be the fifth meeting between the two programs with Thomas More holding a 4-0 margin in the series.

Video:

https://team1sports.com/thomasmore/

Live Stats:

https://thomasmoresaints.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary