Threshers Escape Eagles with Late Rally

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Avila men's basketball put together arguably its best performance of the season so far and built a double-digit lead in the second half, but Bethel (4-3, 2-1 KCAC) finally heated up late and pieced together an impressive rally to come back and barely beat the Eagles (1-7, 0-3 KCAC) 62-58 on Tuesday night in Mabee Fieldhouse.

It's no secret that it's been tough sledding for the Eagles in recent weeks, but this showing Tuesday was grounds for a lot of optimism moving forward this season. Bethel was last season's KCAC Tournament runner-up and did well in the NAIA Tournament as well, and the Eagles took them right to the wire once again. The Threshers were without their top player, Clifford Byrd, but the Eagles were shorthanded Tuesday as well and still put together their best performance this season since their season opener against Missouri Valley.

The Threshers were ice cold from the field and especially from three-point range all night, but most notably in the first half, where Bethel shot 1-of-16 from downtown as a team. Avila took full advantage of that: the Eagles had the superior shooting night in all phases, and used that edge to build up a nine-point lead at the halftime break. Avila also had superior depth scoring but Bethel had a 15-6 edge in points off turnovers, a key factor in the Threshers' second half comeback.

Fresh off a difficult game over the week, Avila returned home to Mabee Fieldhouse for just the second time this season and started off hot: Tremaine Banks and DJ Pitia both hit threes – both assisted by Donte' Simpson – to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead just over three minutes into the game. And Avila held that edge for the entire first half. A deep ball from Jared Larson put the Eagles up double figures for the first time, and Jorden Gilmete scored five straight points to extend the lead to 31-18 with two minutes to play.

Avila led 31-22 going into the second half, and Banks scored five straight early on to extend the lead back out to 12. Avila's lead hovered around ten points until Simpson connected on a putback and then set up Octavion Williams for a wing three to put the Eagles in front 46-31, their largest lead of the game, with about 11 minutes left to play.

That forced the Threshers to call a timeout, and from then on, their shots finally started to fall, and for the final ten minutes of play, it was game on. Banks once again scored five in a row to keep Avila ahead with eight minutes left, but Bethel veteran Bryant Mocaby finally started to heat up after a dismal first half to get the visitors going. A clutch steal and bucket from Banks followed by a close-range finish from Jonathan Cosby kept Avila in front 55-51, but Nick Bonner hit a runner and then set up Mocaby for yet another three, and the Threshers had their first lead of the night, 56-55, with 2:30 to play.

Cosby tied things up with a free throw, but after Bonner converted a second-chance bucket there was not enough time for the Eagles to wrest back control, and the lead. Bethel hit a couple of free throws in the final minute and conceded a last-second layup to Simpson but that was all that was needed for Bethel to rally and escape with a slim 62-58 victory.

Mocaby led all players with 20 points, though he needed 17 three-point attempts to get there. Bonner was strong in the absence of Byrd with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals, as was young guard Carmelo Yakubu, who finished with nine points and 11 boards.

Banks made 50% of his field goal attempts to once again lead the Eagles in scoring with 15 points. Simpson turned in a trademark all-around game with seven points, seven rebounds, eight assists against only two turnovers, a block and a steal; and Cosby had his best game of the season off the bench with eight points and eight boards.

Up next for Avila men's basketball following the Thanksgiving break is a short trip east for a non-conference game against NCAA Division II side Missouri Western this Saturday, November 26. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 PM following the conclusion of the women's game. Check out avilaathletics.com for details on how to watch and follow along.