Jimmies defeat Bethel (Kan.) to move on to NAIA Second Round

The 11th-ranked Jimmie men's basketball team took on Bethel (Kan.) College in the First Round of the 2023 NAIA Men's Basketball Championship, presented by Ballogy, coming away with an 81-70 win Tuesday evening at Harold Newman Arena.

UJ (26-6) will face Peru State (Neb.) College (25-7) Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the championship game of the Liston Quadrant's Jamestown pod.

Mason Walters had eight of the Jimmies' first 11 points as the teams traded the lead in the early stages of the game. Bethel's largest lead came on a pair of Harper Jonas free throws that made it 14-11 at the 12:16 mark.

A 6-0 run put UJ back in the lead with just over 10 minutes in the half and they would keep that lead into the break, 38-33.

Jamestown spent much of the second half at the free throw line as Bethel was whistled for 16 fouls. The Jimmies sank 18 of their 21 free throw attempts, nearly matching their number of field goal attempts (22) over the final 20 minutes.

Walters and Cole Woodford each had big second halves in the win. Woodford dropped in 15 of his 19 while going a perfect 7-for-7 at the stripe, and Walters poured in 20 of his game-high 34. Gastner nearly had a double-double (9 points, 12 rebounds) and Will Cordes also added nine points.

A win over Peru State would send Jamestown to the round of 16 for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Peru State defeated Mayville State (N.D.) 101-92 in Tuesday's first game.