Box Score

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com) It was the home opener for the UW-River Falls Falcon's men's basketball team (0-1, 0-0 WIAC) against Bethel University (1-0, 0-0 MIAC). The Falcons fell to the hands of the Royals by a score of 62-55.

Both teams coming off 90 plus point games in each team's season openers struggled at the start of the game with neither team scoring in the first three and a half minutes with Bethel scoring the first basket of the game at 16:36.

The Falcons lone lead of the game came at 16:31 when senior forward Jon Christensen hit a three pointer to make the score 3-2. The Royals then fired back with a three of their own and never trailed the rest of the game.

After the Falcons tied the game at 7-7, the Royals exploded for a 16-3 run. The Falcons clawed their way back into the game and came within two points of the Royals with 2:13 to go in the first half. The Royals held the Falcons at bay and went into halftime with a 30-25 lead.

Bethel sprinted out of the gates in the second half and started it with an 11-3 run to increase the lead to 13 points. The Falcons again in catch up mode, had to fight their way back into the game.

The Falcons faced a 10 point deficit with 3:06 to go, but answered with a 7-0 run to come within three points of the Royals with junior forward Garret Pearson having five of those points. The Falcons gave themselves a chance at the end of the game, but could not finish the comeback and fell by a score of 62-55.

Christensen polished off his second straight double-double to start the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds for UWRF on 8-13 shooting and three buckets from downtown. Pearson struggled after his 23 point performance in the last game and shot 3-7 from the floor with nine points along with six rebounds. Senior Jack Herum added eight points and eight rebounds.

For the second straight game the Falcons started freshman point guard Logan Halvorson, with Grant Erickson sitting out with an injury. Bethel and UWRF each had 17 turnovers. The Falcons won the rebounding battle for the second straight game with 42 rebounds to the Royals 40 with UWRF snagging 13 offensive rebounds.

Shooting the ball, UWRF was 17-53 (32.1 percent) with Bethel shooting 21-53 (39.6 percent). Bethel shot 22 three point shots and connected on nine of them to shoot 40.9 percent from long distance. The Falcons shot 4-16 from the three point line. Both teams struggled from the free throw line with UWRF shooting 17-30 (56.7 percent) to the Royals 11-22 (50 percent).

Up next for the Falcons (0-2, 0-0 WIAC) is the UW-Superior Thanksgiving Classic that is held in Superior Wisconsin on Friday November 20 and Saturday November 21. The Falcons will face UW-Superior for the first time as a non-conference opponent since moving to the UMAC conference this year. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. on Friday. 

Video Highlights courtesy of Kelsey Tyznik:  UWRF Men's Bball vs Bethel Nov. 17, 2015