Men's Basketball: Bison Fall to Eagles in Holiday Tournament Opener

Drew VonScio, Student Assistant for Athletic Communications 

BLUFFTON, Ohio – Bethany's men's basketball team traveled to Bluffton University to take on the Asbury Eagles in the opening round of the McDonald's Holiday Tournament. Dailey's third double-double of the season was not enough as the Green and White fell by a score of 92-73.

Graduate guard Chance Wright got Bethany on the board inside the opening minute with a three-pointer, as freshman guard Troy Hixson added another just about 30 seconds later. The Bison and the Eagles battled through the early portion of the first half as the sides went back-and-forth. Bethany continued to be the pacesetters in the contest courtesy of triples from Logan Wright and TJ Jenkins before freshman phenom Cole Dailey added a pair of layups working in the paint. Asbury took their first lead of the contest with just under a dozen minutes to go in the opening frame, but the Bison reclaimed it with a layup from sophomore Chance Wells. Unfortunately for the Bison, the final few minutes of the half saw some of the growing pains seep in again which led to the Eagles pulling ahead by seven going into the intermission.

Hoping for things to turn around in the second half, Wells added a layup just 10 seconds in to cut the deficit down for Bethany, but Asbury scored six consecutive points in less than two minutes time. A pair of layups from Dailey and two jumpers from Wells got the Bison back within five. The Eagles took the game by storm as they went on an 8-2 run to restore their double-digit advantage. A three from Tony Fox and a Dailey jumper limited the deficit to just 12, but then the Green and White were blanked for four consecutive minutes as the offensive struggles multiplied on every possession. By the time Bethany was able to put more points on the board with just over six minutes to play, the damage was done as they then trailed by 22. The Bison managed to shave a few ticks off of their deficit before falling 92-73. 

Wells paced Bethany with 21 points and five assists followed by Dailey's double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds; Dailey is currently averaging a double-double approximately every four games in his first year for the Bison. It's a quick turnaround for the Green and White as they are right back at it tomorrow afternoon in the consolation game of the tournament when they battle with the host, Bluffton University. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m.