Wildcats Hold Off Missouri Baptist for 74–70 Home Victory

MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The Bethel University men's basketball team picked up an impressive home victory Tuesday night, knocking off Missouri Baptist 74–70 in a hard-fought battle inside Crisp Arena.

The Wildcats trailed by three at halftime, 38–35, after Missouri Baptist controlled much of the opening period. Bethel stayed within striking distance behind balanced scoring and timely stops, setting the stage for a strong second-half push.

Bethel turned the momentum after the break, outscoring the Spartans 39–32 in the second half. The Wildcats shot 50 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and leaned on their depth, scoring 28 bench points compared to Missouri Baptist's 23.

Chauncey Hughes III led the way with 16 points, knocking down all seven of his free throws while adding four assists and three steals. Isiah Darden provided a big spark in limited minutes, scoring 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance, while Ethan Turner chipped in 12 points and helped anchor the paint as Bethel finished with a 31–28 rebounding edge.

The final minutes were tense, with the score tied at 65 before Bethel executed down the stretch. Hughes came up with a clutch layup and free throw in the closing seconds to seal the win, as the Wildcats made the necessary plays on both ends to close out the victory.

"Missouri Baptist is a really good team, and I was proud of how our guys stayed composed and trusted each other down the stretch," said head coach Jeff Britt. "We defended, rebounded, and made plays when it mattered most."

With the win, Bethel improved to 10–1 on the season, handing Missouri Baptist just its second loss of the year. It was Bethel's ninth straight victory.

The Wildcats will return to action at home on Thursday, hosting the Brescia Bearcats at Crisp Arena. Tip-off is set for 11 a.m. It is the Annual Kid's Day game with several hundred school students expected to be in attendance.