Sixth-seeded Tabor defeats Bethany 78-72
The sixth-seeded Tabor College Bluejays played one of their best games of the season Thursday night in Lindsborg in quarterfinal action of the KCAC post-season tournament, defeating the Bethany Swedes 78-72.
Tabor bolted to a 18-5 lead early and managed to preserve a 10-point lead of 40-30 at halftime.
The Bluejays came out firing in the second stanza as well, extending their lead to 16 points at 48-32 with 17:02 to play but Bethany mounted a comeback effort and whittled Tabor's lead to just four points, 56-52, at the 6:14 mark.
But the Bluejays answered from the charity stripe down the stretch and finished the game hitting 20 of 21 from the free throw line (95 percent) to preserve their upset win.
Tabor was led by Grant Brubacher who had a huge game with 25 points but also received 16 points from Matt Miller and 13 from Tyler Weinbrenner.
Bethany was led by Daniel Sherman and Mike Melcher with 12 apiece.
Tabor hit 24 of 60 (40 percent) from the field including 10 of 29 (35 percent) from the 3-point line while Bethany was 24 of 55 from the field (44 percent), six of 20 from the 3-point line (30 percent) and 18 of 23 (78 percent) from the free throw line.
Tabor committed just two first half turnovers and finished with 13 for the game while Bethany was guilty of 15 turnovers.
Bethany won the rebounding battle 36-28 with Miller hauling in nine to lead Tabor.
The win improves Tabor's record to 14-14 for the season while Bethany finishes at 17-12.
With the win, Tabor advances to the semi-final game on Saturday night at Sterling against the Warriors at 7:00 at the Gleason Center.
