NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Many in Kansas that follow small college sports are familiar with the significance of Wednesday's basketball matchup featuring Tabor and Bethel. The two schools are just 20 miles apart, both founded by different groups of Mennonites, resulting in the perfect recipe for a fantastic rivalry. Since 1948, the two programs have met 137 times.
 
LAST TIME OUT

• Fell in a tight road contest at Ottawa on Saturday, 85-80
• Marque Wilkerson led the Bluejays offensively with 19 points, followed by Niieihii Blackbear (15), Khalil Allen (14), and Kam Kaniper (10)
• Jake Weaver dominated the boards, hauling in 10 total rebounds (four offensive, six defensive)
• Wilkerson also snagged five steals in addition to his scoring efforts

 
LAST TIME AGAINST THE THRESHERS

• Last met on February 19^th, 2025, in North Newton
• Bethel squeaked by with the win, 91-81
• Out of the returners, Cade Kittrell led Bethel with 10 points, while Kam Kaniper finished with seven points for Tabor

 
SCOUTING THE THRESHERS

• 13-3 overall record, 8-2 record in KCAC play
• Ranked No. 25 in the most recent NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll (January 14^th, 2026)
• Picked up a 73-61 win on the road at Saint Mary on Saturday
• Carmelo Yakubu currently leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.6 points per game, followed by Trenton Patterson (13.1 points per game) and Albert Diarra (11.0 points per game)
• Patterson led the way in Saturday's win with 16 points off the bench, while dishing out four assists

 
SERIES HISTORY VS BETHEL

• Dates back to 1948, with 137 total meetings
• Tabor won the first matchup in 1948 in nail-biting fashion, 35-34
• The Bluejays currently lead the series, 85-52
• Tabor's largest margin of victory came in 1996 with a 38-point victory, 98-60

 
OUTLOOK

• Bethel has a solid squad, but the Bluejays will most definitely make things interesting as has been seen as of late. They never seem to be out of any game. Fans can look forward to a thrilling contest.

 
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).