ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team dropped a MIAC game at Bethel University, 60-59 Saturday afternoon in the Robinson Center. The Scots are now 10-12 overall and 7-10 in conference play, while the Royals improve to 10-11, 7-9 MIAC.

Macalester took control midway through the first half, as a pair of threes from sophomore guard Tom Andreae (Newton, Mass./Newton North) and another by first year guard Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) gave the Scots a 22-12 lead with 9:11 left in the half. After a Bethel basket, sophomore guard Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose) hit a three for the largest lead of the game, 25-14 at the seven-minute mark. The Royals came within six points before halftime, only to have Gold drain another from distance to send the Scots into the break with a 36-27 advantage. Macalester shot 8-of-16 from three-point range in the first half.

The second half saw the hosts pick away at the Scots' lead, opening the period with a 12-2 run to make it a one-point game, 40-39 with 11:36 remaining. Macalester responded with a 14-5 run of its own, capped by a three-pointer from Gold, to lead 54-44 with under six minutes to play. The Royals did not concede, reeling off a 14-2 run to take their first lead since early in the first half, 58-56 with 1:09 on the clock.

After both teams came up empty on their next possessions, Williams made a layup and was fouled. He converted the conventional three-point play to put the Scots on top, 59-58 with just 14 seconds left. Bethel came through in the clutch with a layup by Jaren Tschetter with five second to play for a 60-59 edge. Williams dribbled the length of the court and had a decent look at a three-pointer, but the shot didn't fall and the Royals earned a split in the season series with Macalester. The Scots were 2-of-10 in field goal attempts in the final five minutes of the game and shot just 1-of-13 from beyond the arc after halftime.

Williams led the way for Macalester with 23 points, six rebounds and two steals. Gold finished with 11 points, while senior guard Lucas Leiter (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Eagan) scored 10 points off the bench. Senior guard Gabriel Ramos (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Tasis Dorado) dished out five assists and contributed eight points and six rebounds.

The Scots return home to host Augsburg on Monday, Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center. The team will honor its seniors before the game as a part of Senior Day.