Feb. 21 – WASHINGTON, Pa. – Behind a career-high 24 points from junior Alan Harper (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic), the Bethany College men's basketball team put together a solid showing in their final regular season game, defeating Washington & Jefferson 73-50 on Saturday afternoon.
The Green & White came out of the gates strong, converting on three of their first four three-point attempts to spark an 11-0 run to open the game. Darrian Bruster (Cleveland, Ohio/Cleveland Central Catholic), Harper and Delonte' Joyce (Annapolis, Md./Annapolis) all hit a three, and Joyce scored five total points to open the double-digit lead for the Bison with 17:34 to play in the first stanza.
The Bison never trailed in the first half, but the Presidents cut the Bethany advantage to six (26-20) with 4:52 to go. However, the Green & White would respond, closing the first half as strong as they opened it. Getting seven points from Calique Jones (Pittsburgh, Pa./Obama Academy), six from Harper and two from Bruster, Bethany closed the half on a 15-0 run to take a 21-point lead into the halftime break, 41-20.
Harper came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, scoring 15 points in the frame. The Bison shot 50 percent from the field in the half, while holding the Presidents to just 26 percent shooting in the frame.
Washington & Jefferson would take their best shot in the first ten minutes of the second half, outscoring the Bison 18-5 to diminish the Bethany lead to eight points (46-38) with 10:323 to play in the game. However, solid defense by the Bison, as well as some timely shooting, re-expanded the advantage, and eventually grew the lead to as many as 25 points (70-45) before the Green & White settled on the 23-point victory, 73-50.
Bethany once again locked down the Presidents in the second half, forcing 13 W&J turnovers while accumulating 10 steals in the stanza. Overall the Bison speed proved too much for Washington & Jefferson as the Green & White totaled 15 steals which led to 15 fast-break points and 20 points off of turnovers.
Offensively, Harper had arguably his best shooting night of the season, finishing the game with a career-best 24 points. He shot 10-of-16 from the field and four-of-eight from behind the three-point line to secure his second-consecutive 20-point performance. Joyce was the other player in double figures for the Bison, totaling 17.
The Bison, who finished the season with an overall record of 16-9, including an 11-5 mark in conference play. Thanks to the victory, coupled with a Thomas More loss to Saint Vincent, the Bison have secured the third seed in the upcoming Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship tournament. The Green & White will host a home game against the sixth-seeded Golden Tornadoes of Geneva College in a rematch of a first-round playoff game from last season. The contest is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.
