NORTH NEWTON - This time the Kansas Wesleyan men found a way to win a close game.
Alex Littlejohn's two free throws with 5.5 seconds left and Eric Green's clutch defensive play as time was expiring hoisted KWU to a wild 71-70 Kansas Conference victory over Bethel on Thursday night inside Thresher Gymnasium.
Trailing 68-58 the Coyotes outscored Bethel 13-2 in the final 4:40 of the game.
Most importantly they remain alive in the chase for a berth in the eight team KCAC postseason tournament and improved to 7-12 in the conference, 12-13 overall. KWU's last seven losses have been by three points or less. Bethel fell to 17-8 and 13-6.
The win also marked the first time KWU has won back-to-back games since opening the season 4-0.
"Just proud of the guys and the effort they gave," KWU coach Anthony Monson said on the postgame radio show. "We found a way to sneak this one out, make the plays at the end. I'm happy they found a way to get this big win."
It was a game of long scoring runs, and the Coyotes made the last one. Bethel used a 19-3 surge in building its 10-point lead, but KWU promptly scored the next eight. After Carmelo Yakubu scored for Bethel to make it 70-66 with 1:22 remaining Evens Appolon's three-point play got the Coyotes within 70-69 with 59 seconds left.
Bethel then missed a shot on its next possession. That set the stage for Littlejohn who missed a shot under the basket, grabbed the rebound and was fouled as he went up on a follow shot. He calmly sank both free throws.
KWU fouled Bethel with 2.4 seconds left but it was just the sixth team foul. After two time outs the Threshers inbounded the ball but Eric Green, who entered the game for the first time after the time out, poked the ball away from a Bethel player preventing a last-second shot attempt.
"They've got to make the inbounds play, and they didn't make it, they fumbled it with two seconds left and you're not going to get a good (shot) off," Monson said. "We finally won a close one and that's a big confidence boost for us. A lot of credit goes to them."
The Coyotes led 13-4 at the outset after an 11-0 run but Bethel answered with bursts of 9-0 and 11-1. KWU scored the last four points of the half, trailed 39-37 at the intermission and continued the run by scoring eight of the first 10 points of the second half for a 45-41 lead with 15 minutes left.
Down 55-49 with 11½ minutes left Bethel went on its last big run.
Littlejohn and Appolon led the way with 17 points apiece - Appolon made all seven of his field goal attempts and was 3 of 5 at the free throw line. Littlejohn also grabbed 11 rebounds and Appolon blocked five shots. Easton Hunter scored 16 and Izaiah Hale had six steals - five in the first half - to go along with seven points.
KWU shot 49 percent (27 of 55) and outscored Bethel in the paint 36-30. Bethel shot 45 percent (26 of 58) and was led by Yakubu's 20 points.
"At the end of the day we're still alive and we've got meaningful games to play and we've got to find a way to win three more," Monson said.