HILLSBORO, Kan. – The Tabor College Men's Basketball team hosted Bethel College in a rematch of the two teams last night. The two teams are bitter rivals, which helped factor into the tense environment in Tabor College Gymnasium. The Bluejay men were coming off a tough loss at No. 4 Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Saturday, while the Threshers were coming off a loss at home against No. 9 Southwestern College.
 
The first half was exactly what one would expect from a game like this, lots of intensity, virtually even, and both teams would trade buckets throughout the first half. The Bluejays would lead by as many as two points at times during the first half, while the Threshers would lead by as many as seven. Bethel would go into the halftime break with a four-point lead, 40-36. Jack Voth (13) led the Tabor in scoring in the first half and was the only Bluejay in double-figures, while Kalep Crane would have nine, Jaiden Miller would have five, Thatcher McClure had three, and James Aboaba, Kade Hemmert, and Kenyon Holcombe each had two points to round out scoring in the first half for the Bluejays.
 
The second half would start out slow for Tabor, but Bethel would have no problem getting off to a quick start, getting out to a 10-point lead at the 14:49 mark. The Bluejays would not go away without a fight and would continue to chip away. The Threshers would eventually gain momentum and start to build on their lead at the 11:05 mark, pushing it out to 13 points. The Threshers would not let up and would lead by as many as 30 points and would go on to win by 28, 90-62. Two Bluejays would record double figures in scoring: Voth (17) and Miller (15). Crane would finish with nine, McClure would have six, Aboaba would finish with five, Holcombe would finish with four, and Hemmert, Creighton Kukula, and Zach Hiebert would round out the team in scoring with two. 
 
"Really disappointed with how the second half unfolded", said Head Coach Matt Warren. "We didn't have much fight left in the tank and that is unacceptable. There are certain nights in this league where you better be ready for a street fight, and this was one of them. We did not match their physicality which was my major concern."
 
The Bluejay men will return to action on Saturday to host the visiting Falcons from Friends University. The Bluejays previously beat the Falcons in early January and will look to sweep the season series on Saturday. The game will tip off at 7pm and will be broadcast live in the KCAC Network.
 
Be sure to stay up to date with all information regarding Bluejay Athletics by following us on X at @gotaborbluejays, on Instagram and Facebook @taborbluejays, and on our official athletic website, taborbluejays.com.

Tabor College is a Christ-centered institution located in Hillsboro, Kansas. The Bluejays are members of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and compete in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC).