HILLSBORO, Kan. – The Tabor College Resereve Men's Basketball team played the Bethel College Reserve Men's Basketball team on Wednesday. The Bluejay men were coming off a loss to Sterling College last week and were looking to even out the season series against the Threshers after dropping the previous meeting in North Newton, 82-61.
 
The first half was a thrilling back-and-forth matchup worthy of a rivalry game. The intensity of the game showed in the physicality and the foul count. 22 fouls were called on both teams, 11 on each team. Both teams would go into the halftime break looking to go on a run in the second half, with the score knotted at 39. Creighton Kukula led the team in scoring in the first half with nine points, while Brett Buckingham (8) and Langston Taylor (7) would look to have a breakout game after a solid first half. Drew Wertenberger (5) had a nice layup followed by a three later in the half that helped bring energy to the Bluejays' bench. Jordy Dolloff (4) took advantage of some solid looks to get two much needed buckets for the Bluejays, while Cole Kimble (3) would hit a much needed three in his first game back after being out with an injury and Kam Kaniper (3) would hit a gorgeous three in the first half.
 
The second half would prove to be difficult for the Bluejays, they would fight to keep it close, but the Threshers would ultimately pull away and win by seven, 75-68. Kukula (17) would end the game as the Bluejays' leading scorer while Taylor (13), Kaniper (12), and Wertenberger (11) would round out the team in double-figures. Three other Bluejays would get on the board over the course of the game: Buckingham (8), Dolloff (4), and Kimble (3).
 
"We had some good stretches", said Reserve Head Coach Ethan Gager, "but we must continue to do the right things consistently in order to maintain control of a game like that. We'll learn from this one and figure out how we can do that this Saturday."
 
The Bluejay Reserve men will return to action tomorrow at 2:45pm to face the Friends University Falcons. The Bluejays earned a solid 26-point win over the Falcons in their meeting in Wichita back in November, 88-62.
 
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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).