Photos

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Despite a 27-point effort by Riley Aeikens, the St. Olaf men's basketball team fell to Bethel by a score of 76-66 on Wednesday night at Skoglund Center.

Aeikens led all scorers with 27 points, but was the only Ole in double figures.  He also led the team with eight rebounds and four steals.  The Royals had four players with double digit scoring, led by Brycen Wojta who had 24 points. Wojta was 17-of-20 from the charity stripe.  Wojta also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out seven assists to lead the Royals in each of those categories.

Bethel (9-1, 4-1 MIAC) led by as many as 15 with six minutes remaining in the first half and took a commanding 36-26 lead going into halftime.  St. Olaf (6-5, 4-2 MIAC) surged out of the gates in the second half with a 15-0 run in the first five minutes, taking a five point lead. But the Royals countered with an 18-2 run over a four-minute stretch midway through the second half. 

Austin Korba added seven points, three steals and a team-high three assists off the bench for the Oles.

The Oles return to Skoglund Center to face Saint Mary's University on Saturday at 1 p.m. in another MIAC contest.