La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball fell 72-63 to Bethel University (Minn.) Saturday afternoon in Mitchell Hall. The Eagles drop to 4-1 on the season while the Royals improve to 4-0.

Bethel (Minn.) scored the first seven points of the game before UWL came back to go on a 9-2 run to force the first tie of the game at 9-9. The game was tied 26-26 with 7:51 left in the first half when the Eagles went on a 8-2 run to lead 34-28 with 5:04 remaining on Ben Meinholz' three-point play. UWL led 42-36 at halftime.

The Eagles took their largest lead of the game at 50-38 with 17:57 left on a Meinholz' three-point field goal. The Royals then went on a 15-0 run to lead 53-50 with 10:17 remaining after a Bridgeport Tusler layup. UWL went 9:02 without scoring as the Eagles missed 11 straight field goals and committed four turnovers. Milton Cummings tied the game at 53-53 with 8:55 left on a three-pointer. 

The game was tied 55-55 with 7:54 remaining when a Tusler layup and Granger Kingland jumper gave Bethel (Minn.) a four-point lead. UWL came back to take a 62-61 lead with 3:14 left on Taulvish McCray's two free throws. A Derek Magnuson layup gave Bethel (Minn.) a 63-62 lead with a layup with 2:28 left. Brendon Manning hit one-of-two free throws to tie the contest, 63-63 with 2:08 left. UWL would not score the rest of the game as Bethel (Minn.) scored the final nine points. Magnuson's jumper with 1:48 left gave the Royals the lead at 65-63. Tusler had a steal and layup on the UWL's ensuing possession to give Bethel (Minn.) a four-point lead with 1:27 remaining. Sam Skoyen missed a pair for free throws for UWL with 1:06 left and Kingland hit a three-point field goal with :46 remaining to make it 70-63.

UWL shot 38.7% from the field, including 30.0% (six-of-20) from three-point range, and 64.3% (nine-of-14) at the free throw line. The Eagles shot 50.0% (18-of-36) from the field in the first half and 23.1% (six-of-26) in the second half.

Meinholz led UWL with 17 points, 14 coming in the first half. McCray, Manning and Cummings each totaled eight points. Manning had a game-high 12 rebounds.

Bethel (Minn.) shot 53.2% from the field, including 33.3% (five-of-15) from three-point range, and 81.0% (17-of-21) at the line. The Royals shot 57.1% (12-of-21) from the field in the second half.

Tusler led four Bethel (Minn.) starters in double figures wiht 23 points. He also had seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kingland finished with 14 points while Magnuson totaled 12 points and seven rebounds. Jack Jenson finished with 10 points.

UWL returns to action Saturday, December 2 hosting Northland College (Wis.) at 4 p.m.