Wichita, Kansas — No.23 Northwestern College saw its season come to an end with a 76-69 loss to 18th-ranked Bethel (Kan.) in the championship game of the Wichita Bracket B in the 2021 NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship opening round.
The Raiders saw its 13-game win streak come to a close as they finished with a 23-6 overall record, the 15th 20+ win season under head coach Kris Korver.
Bethel advances to the final site, Kansas City, with a 21-6 overall mark; the Threshers are playing in just their second national tournament.
Down by 14 with nine minutes left, Northwestern began a furious rally that would bring them within one (67-66) at the five minute mark. Alex Van Kalsbeek scored on back-to-back possessions to cut the lead down to 10; still down 11 after a basket by Jaylon Scott, Northwestern followed with a 10-0 run on a basket by Isaac Heyer, a three-pointer from Noah Slagter and five points by Van Kalsbeek.
Bethel, however, responded by scoring the next six points, all by junior guard Clifford Byrd II, and Northwestern did not get any closer than four during the final three minutes.
Craig Sterk led Northwestern with 18 points, 14 coming in the second half, despite battling foul problems all game and eventually fouling out with four minutes left. Heyer nearly registered a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds while Van Kalsbeek concluded an outstanding freshman season with his seventh double-double (14pts, 10 rebounds). Jay Small scored all 13 of his points in the first half and dished out four assists.
Northwestern and Bethel traded baskets early and often during the first eight minutes as the lead changed hand eight times. With the Raiders leading by two (18-16), Bethel went on the game’s first substantial run (9-0) to open up a 25-18 advantage at the 10-minute mark.
Korver’s squad responded with five straight points on free throws by Matt Onken and a three-point play from Van Kalsbeek to cut the Threshers’ lead down to 25-23. Another Bethel run, this time an 8-0 surge, but the Threshers in front by double digits at the break, 45-32.
Northwestern shot 40% compared to 48% by the Threshers; both teams shot 33% from the arc. The Raiders had the advantage on the glass (38-35); Bethel held the edge in turnovers (16-8).
Bethel was led by the junior duo of Clifford Byrd II (26pts) and Jaylon Scott (25pts); Scott pulled down 11 rebounds and Byrd II dished out four assists.
