Stout overcomes deficit, comes back to down Bethel

UW-Stout 91, Bethel University 80

MENOMONIE (November 17, 2018) - For the second night in a row in their own tournament, UW-Stout trailed by as much as 16 points at one point in the game and came back to take the lead. But unlike the previous night, the Blue Devils did not allow the game into overtime and went on to a 91-80 win over Bethel University Saturday in the final game of the UW-Stout Tip Off Classic.

The Blue Devils (3-1) trailed by 16 midway through the first half and it took until the second half before Stout took the lead on a 3-pointer by Braden Walbeck with about seven minutes left to play.

The Royals (1-1) tied the game on a basket by Derek Magnuson moments later. 

But in a heated game, the Royals were called for a technical and Zach Dahl drained both shots to give Stout a 77-75 lead, a lead the Blue Devils would not relinquish the rest of the way.

The Royals cut the score to 77-76. John Keefe, who would score a team-high 19 points, hit a bucket and completed the three point play with a free thrown to give Stout an 80-76 lead. 

Magnuson pulled Bethel to within two points, but the Blue Devils put a damper on the Royals' comeback chances when, with the shot clock winding down, Keefe found D'Marcco Patrick alone in the corner and Patrick buried the 3-ball with 4:35 left to play. The Blue Devils would go on to outscore Bethel 8-2 to close out the game.

The 3-pointer was the Blue Devils' friend tonight as Stout hit 14 of 29 long range bombs (48.3 percent). Stout shot 50 percent (30-60) from the floor and also made 17 of 21 free throws.

Keefe led Stout in scoring for the second consecutive night. Luke Geiger finsihed with 17 points, his third game of the season scoring in double digits. Dahl and Garret Parks each scored 13 points. Parks led Stout in rebounds with seven.

The Royals' Granger Kingland led all scorers with 28 points. Derek Magnuson tallied 18 points and Tyler Barker had 13. The Royals shot 47.3 percent from the floor (26-55) and 33.3 percent from 3-point range (8-24). They dropped in 20 of 28 3-pointers. 

In the day's opening game, UW-Eau Claire shot out to a 17-3 lead and went on to an 82-71 win over McMurry University.

Stout is off until Tuesday, Nov. 27 when they travel to Bethany Lutheran College.