NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Down by 19 points at the half, no big deal for the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes. Wesleyan put together an incredible second half rally, but fell just short in a 78-72 decision to the Bethel Threshers on Thursday night at Thresher Gym in North Newton.

Wesleyan trailed 41-22 at the break, no thanks to a paltry shooting effort as Wesleyan went 8-of-31 from the field for 25.8 percent in the first 20 minutes, which was a drastic improvement over the 15 percent they were shooting earlier in the half.

A three by Justin Baldia with 18:44 left in the second half put Bethel up 22 points at 47-25 and thinks looked bleak for the Coyotes, but Wesleyan had a little rally in them still. Fueled by 12 straight points by Dylan Briscoe, all on three's, the Coyotes got back within 12 with 16:27 to go at 49-37.

Wesleyan wasn't finished there, an Eric Regier turnover led to a bucket by Ty Dean and his free throw after being fouled got the Coyotes back within nine at 49-40 with 15:39 left. The Coyotes continued to come back, getting within a pair at the 13:18 mark on a three by Dane Brinker that made it 51-49.

Bethel scored eight of the next ten points to push back out to a 59-51 lead with 9:59 to go, but here came the Coyotes again. A bucket by Jason Carter and a three-point play by Brinker got the Coyotes back within three with 7:24 to go, and another triple by Brinker knotted things up at 59-all with 7:02 to go.

Lee Griffin hit a pair of free throws for Bethel to keep the Threshers ahead, but a Brinker layup with 3:15 to go would give Wesleyan its first lead since 2-0, at 65-63. Griffin hit a pair of free throws as Bethel answered back with nine straight points to take a 72-65 lead with 54.2 seconds left on a Justin Baldia three.

Wesleyan didn't give up, getting back within three on a free throw by Scott Weber, and within four with 11.6 left on a Brock Borovetz triple, but Austin Muckenthaler's free throws with ten seconds left would seal the win for the Threshers.

The first half was something Wesleyan would have liked to forgotten as the Coyotes could not find the basket, shooting just 25.8 percent in the first 20 minutes. Wesleyan led 2-0 to open the game on a Michael Johnson layup, but Bethel took a 5-2 lead on Robbie Wright's three with 17:48 to go in the first half.

Wesleyan got back within one at 5-4 on Seth Smith's free throws, but Bethel would power out to a 11-4 lead capped by Muckenthaler's stickback with 14:55 left. Wesleyan got a bucket by Smith with 12:21 to go to stay within five when Bethel would go on a 14-1 run to take a 27-9 lead with 8:18 to go.

The Coyotes got back within 14 with 5:19 to go, but Bethel closed the half on a 12-7 run to take the 41-22 lead into the break. Wesleyan scored five of the final seven points of the half, all by Briscoe.

Briscoe had 19 to lead the Coyotes, 14 of them coming in the second half, as Wesleyan shot 23-of-67 from the field for 34.3 percent. Wesleyan scored 50 points in the second half, winning the final 20 minutes by 13 over the Threshers. Brinker added 17 and Smith had 10 for the Coyotes. Dean had 10 rebounds to help the Coyotes to a 43-39 rebounding advantage.

Griffin led all scorers in the game for Bethel with 21 as the Threshers shot 39.3 percent from the field for the game on 22-of-56 shooting. Bethel also outshot Wesleyan by nine free throws, which turned out to be the advantage in the game. Baldia added 17 for the Threshers. Griffin had 10 rebounds to lead the Threshers on the glass.

Wesleyan returns to Mabee Arena to host Tabor College on Saturday.