COLUMBIA, Ky.- The Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team fell to Bethel (Tenn.) in heartbreaking fashion, 80-78 at Biggers Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.

Kenyata Carbon led the Blue Raiders with 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting as he tried to push past the Wildcats despite playing in foul trouble throughout the second half. However, his efforts alongside Daivel Jackson's 18 points and Johrdon Mumford's 10 points were just shy of what Lindsey Wilson needed to complete its comeback in the final 20 minutes.

Bethel started strong, opening the game with a 19-8 run. Lindsey Wilson responded by tying the game at 19 but the Wildcats countered with a 16-10 run to take a 35-28 lead by halftime. Jackson, coming off the bench, contributed eight points, five rebounds, and two blocks in the first half. Even still, the Blue Raiders struggled offensively, converting 34.4 percent of their shots from the floor in the opening half.

After the break, Lindsey Wilson began chipping away at the Wildcats' lead and eventually took control with an 11-1 run, sparked by an Olson Nicholson mid-range jumper. Three three-point-plays from Carbon energized the Blue Raiders and rallied the crowd, helping the Blue Raiders surge ahead 56-52. The back-and-forth action of the second half kept both sides at each other's necks down the stretch.

With 1:41 remaining, Julian Cunningham drained a clutch three-pointer to give Lindsey Wilson a 75-74 edge. Bethel answered with a pair of free throws to reclaim the lead at 78-76. With nine seconds left, Carbon knocked down a mid-range jumper to tie the game at 78. However, a late foul sent the Wildcats to the free-throw line where they calmly converted on two more free throws. A last-second heave by Cunningham at the buzzer narrowly missed, sealing the Wildcats' victory. 

The Blue Raiders will be back in action at 6 p.m. CST on Wednesday, February 5 to host Ohio Christian in a non-conference contest.