ARDEN HILLS, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team could not overcome a slow start Monday night in a 75-60 loss at Bethel University in the Robertson Center. The loss is the first defeat on the road this season for the Scots, who drop to 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Royals improve to 2-4, 2-2 MIAC.

Early in the game, back-to-back three-pointers by first year guard Kaden Holdbrook (Palo Alto, Calif./Gunn) answered a 7-0 Bethel run to make the score 7-6. With the Royals leading 12-9 following a free throw by junior guard Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose), Bethel tallied 10 of the next 12 points to push its advantage to 22-11 midway through the first half. A layup and a three-pointer from sophomore forward Noah Shannon (Northfield, Ill./New Trier) brought the Scots to within six, 22-16, only to have the Royals score 11 straight points for a 33-16 lead with 3:14 left in the half. The lead grew to as many as 23 points before Bethel took a commanding 45-23 edge at the break. The Royals made 8-of-12 from three-point range in the first half compared to 3-of-11 for Macalester.

With Bethel leading by 20, 51-31 with 17:03 to play, the Scots made a comeback attempt. Ten points from Williams sparked a 20-8 run that cut the deficit to eight, 59-51 with 9:04 remaining. Shannon scored four points and sophomore forward Ryan Brush (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue) hit a three in the run to keep Macalester's hopes alive. After Bethel made a basket and a free throw for a 62-51 lead, the Scots came within nine points four times but would get no closer, as the Royals closed out the game with a 6-0 run to hand Macalester its first loss on the road in five games away from the Leonard Center this season.

The Scots shot 50.0 percent after halftime but just 3-of-12 from beyond the arc. Bethel cooled down from deep in the second half, making 1-of-12, but the first half lead proved too much to erase. Williams led the Scots with 16 points, including 10 in the second half, and three assists. Shannon and Holdbrook each scored 15 points, with Shannon grabbing a team-leading eight rebounds to go with two steals. Junior guard Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) registered eight points, three assists and two steals. Zach Doely and Nick Burke scored 14 points apiece to pace the Royals.

Macalester returns home to host Gustavus on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The MIAC game begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.