Cats Host # 10 Saints Thursday in Crisp
MCKENZIE, Tenn. –The Bethel Wildcats return home for the first time since December 18 when they play host to the No. 10 Thomas More Saints Thursday at 8 p.m. in Crisp Arena. The game will be the first of four straight home games for the Wildcats.
After their recent loss at Cumberlands (KY), the Wildcats are 10-6 overall and 2-6 in the MSC. The Cats have lost three of their last four.
The Saints bring a four-game winning streak to McKenzie and sport a 13-2 mark. TMU is 7-1 in the MSC. The Saints are 4-0 in road action while Bethel is 5-2 at home on the year. Bethel is 114-36 all-time in Crisp Arena.
The 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. Cumberlands improved to 12-5 and 6-3. The 58 points scored marked a season low for the Wildcats
The TMU game with Georgetown scheduled for Saturday was postponed.
Thomas More beat the Wildcats last year winning 91-78 in McKenzie. It will be the fourth meeting between the two programs. Bethel beat Thomas More in 1985 and 1990.
The Wildcats are averaging 76.9 points per outing. They yield 68.5.
Kamron Rose leads Bethel averaging 11.4 per game. Jon Brown follows at 11.3 points per contest. Drew Thomas pops in 11.0 while Jamarius Mayberry is at 10.8 points per outing.
Jarred Walker enters the game with 388 career assists which is 11th all-time in program history. He is 5th all-time in steals with 199.
Combining his play at West Florida and Bethel, Jon Brown is a member of the 1,000 Point Club with 1, 148 career points. Brown has scored 301 as a Wildcat.
Nine from 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 491-335 and includes 11 seasons with 20-plus wins. He currently ranks 10th for most wins among active NAIA Division I men's basketball coaches. Britt is 385-292 at Bethel.
Trends & Numbers:
Bethel is 7-0 when they outshoot their opponents.
The Cats are 7-3 when they hit more three-pointers.
The Wildcats are 10-4 when they outrebound their opponents.
Bethel is 6-2 when they have less turnovers.
The Cats are 9-3 when they lead at the half.
The Saints average 82.3 and yield 65.3 points per game.
Ryan Batte leads TMU averaging 20.6 points per game. Batte is the reigning MSC Player of the Week. Batte averaged 25 points and seven rebounds in the recent victories by the Saints.
Justin Ray, the 10th head men's basketball coach at Thomas More University is in his fourth season on the sidelines for the Saints. He has a career record of 72-28 at TMU.
Media coverage & Links:
Official Game Day Notes:
https://bethelathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/2021-22_Men-s_Basketball_Game_Notes_-_Jan._13.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