MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 88-78 road win over Bethel (Tenn.) on Saturday afternoon inside Crisp Arena.
The Blue Raiders (18-8, 6-4 Mid-South Conference) shot an efficient 52.9 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from beyond the arc while holding the Wildcats (17-10, 3-8 MSC) to just 39.3 percent shooting. Lindsey Wilson led for more than 33 minutes and controlled the game with balanced scoring and timely defense.
Kenyata Carbon delivered a dominant double-double, scoring 33 points with 10 rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Julian Cunningham followed with 20 points, including a perfect 6-of-6 performance from the free-throw line.
DJ Gordon added 12 points, and
Mihail Gavazov chipped in 10 points and six boards.
After Bethel opened with a quick 8-2 lead, Lindsey Wilson answered with a 16-4 run capped by back-to-back threes from Carbon and
Julian Cunningham to take control. The Blue Raiders continued to push the pace, extending their advantage behind strong shooting from beyond the arc. By halftime, Lindsey Wilson held a 42-31 lead after shooting 50 percent from the floor and forcing several key turnovers.
In the second half, the Blue Raiders stayed in command as Carbon and Cunningham kept the offense steady. Bethel tried to rally behind David Starr's 21 points, but Lindsey Wilson's efficiency at the line made the difference. The Blue Raiders went 24-of-28 from the stripe, including several late free throws from Carbon and Cunningham to seal the victory.
The win completes a season sweep of Bethel after a 100-58 victory in Columbia earlier this season.
The Blue Raiders welcome No. 15 Georgetown (Ky.) next Thursday, February 19, at 7:30 p.m. CT inside Biggers Sports Center in Columbia, Kentucky.
