BRANDT – When a team gives you an opportunity to shoot 31 free throws, the chance of winning is as good as it gets. Unfortunately for the Covington Buccaneers, they made just 18 of the 31 free throw attempts, which ultimately led to a 50-43 loss to Bethel.

The missed opportunities at the free throw line mostly came in the first half as Covington made just five of 12 in the first two periods.

Still, the Buccs were able to keep the score tied at 16-16 at the break thanks to six points by Connor Humphrey, fiver by Britton Miller, four by Bryson Hite and one by Tanner Palsgrove.

Bethel sophomore Mike Halleg, who was held scoreless in the first half, caught fire in the third by canning four three-pointers in the frame. Covington was able to keep pace with the Bees as the score was deadlocked at 30-30 heading into the final frame.

Outside of two three-pointers by Brogen Angle, the Buccaneers went ice cold from the floor down the stretch as the only other bucket the Buccs could convert on came from Gunner Kimmel.

Bethel took advantage by outscoring the Buccs 20-13 in the final frame to hand Covington its ninth straight loss in the TRC.

A positive fro Covington is the fact that seven players contributed to the scoring effort with Bryson Hite leading the way with 10 points.

The negative, Covington let a golden opportunity for victory slip away and it drops its overall record to 4-12 and 0-9 in the TRC.

The Buccs look for their first league win on Tuesday at home against Northridge.

SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Covington – 5 – 11 – 14 – 13 = 43
Bethel – 7 – 9 – 14 – 20 = 50

COVINGTON SCORING:
Bryson Hite – 10
Tanner Palsgrove – 8
Britton Miller – 8
Connor Humphrey – 6
Brogen Angle – 6
Gunner Kimmel – 4
Mic Barhorst – 1

BETHEL SCORING:
Mike Halleg – 19
Remi Brannan – 16
Jason Bowen – 7
Cameron Ahrens – 5
Eli Lowery – 2
Evan Goodman – 1

THREE-POINT SCORING:
Covington – Brogen Angle (2), Bryson Hite (1)
Bethel – Mike Halleg (5), Remi Brannan (1)