ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team lost to Bethel University, 83-55 in a home MIAC game Friday evening in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 4-5 on the season and 0-4 in the league, while the Royals improve to 6-1, 4-0 MIAC.

Bethel outscored Macalester, 23-8 over the first 10 minutes of the game in leading by as many as 16 points in the first half. The Scots shot just 29.2 percent from the floor and committed 12 turnovers, as the Royals took a 36-21 advantage at the half.

A three-pointer by sophomore guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) and a basket from senior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) brought Macalester to within 12, 38-26 early in the second half. But Bethel answered with a 20-5 run that included seven points from Jack Jenson, stretching the lead to 58-31 with 14 minutes remaining. The Scots were unable to get any closer than 22 points the rest of the way, as Bethel remained unbeaten in the MIAC with its fourth league win.

The Royals ended up shooting 50.8 percent from the field for the game compared to 37.0 percent for Macalester. Gutierrez was 9-of-15 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, on his way to a game-high 25 points. He also led the Scots with six rebounds. Ismail was held to six points, four rebounds, four assists and a block, while sophomore guard Carl Salvino (Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt) hit two threes and finished with six points. Jenson paced Bethel with 21 points.

Macalester does not play until Jan. 4, when the Scots host Saint Mary's University at 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.