Cats Win Opening Game in Johnnie Armstrong Classic
BLUE MOUNTAIN, MS –The Bethel Wildcats used a 21-10 run midway of the first half to lead 35-21 at the half over Mississippi University for Women Friday night. They used that surge to beat the Owls 74-66 in the opening game of the Johnnie Armstrong Classic being held at Blue Mountain College.
Despite several comebacks by the Owls who cut the Bethel margin to five late in the game, the Wildcats hung on for the eight-point victory.
Hayden Thomas sparked the Wildcats with 11 first half points and finished with a team high 15. Kamron Rose picked up the slack in the second half scoring 12 of his 14 points in the last twenty minutes. Rose completed his double-double with a game high 14 rebounds. Jon Brown popped in 11 tallies. Jamarius Mayberry finished in double digits with 11 points.
Terryonte Thomas led the Owls with a game high 23 points.
MUW had five more field goals in the game but Bethel's ability to get to the foul made a huge difference. Bethel was 23-of-28 from the line while MUW was 7-of-10. Bethel had a 40-35 rebound advantage.
Bethel moved to 7-3 while MUW dropped to 0-8. It was only the second meeting ever between the two programs. Bethel beat the Owls in 2018.
Bethel senior guard Jarred Walker had four assists. That gives him 373 career dimes which moved him ahead of former Bethel standout Leroy Bell (371) for 10th in program history. Walker had two steals giving him 191 in his career which is 5th all-time in Wildcat history.
Brown's 11 points gives him 2, 005 career points.
With the win Coach Jeff Britt moved closer to win # 500. Britt has now won 488 games in his career. Three hundred and eighty two of those have been at Bethel.
Coach Britt was pleased with the win. "We had several players step up and play well tonight. We have to have that to be successful. Hayden gave us a nice first half lift and then Kam did a great job in the second half. We did a good job getting to the line and when we did we shot well."
The Cats meet Southeastern Baptist Saturday at noon in the classic.
Media coverage & Links:
Tickets must be purchased in advance at: www.bmcsports.com/tickets
Live Video:
Live Stream:
https://www.facebook.com/TheMountainSportsStreams
Live Stats:
https://naiastats.prestosports.com/composite (It is a composite site, so just scroll until you find the matchups)