MANKATO, Minn. -- Beck Page (Jr./Longmont, Colo./Longmont), Luke Harris (Fy./Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont), and Alex Gibbens (So./New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) each finished in double figures, but the Carleton College men's basketball team dropped its 2021-22 season opener at Bethany Lutheran College, 89-71.
 
This was the first game in 630 days for the Knights (0-1), as they did not play intercollegiate competition during the 2020-21 academic year due to the CoVID-19 pandemic. Only six of the 15 players on this year's roster were on campus for Carleton's 88-78 win over Hamline back on Feb. 19, 2020.
 
Tonight, Carleton led 43-42 at halftime thanks to a Miles Frisch (So./Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) three-quarter court shot at the buzzer. That capped a period that saw the Knights shoot 54.5 percent overall and 43 percent (6-of-14) from beyond the arc.
 
After intermission, it was a different story as Bethany Lutheran (2-0) shot 67 percent over the final 20 minutes compared to only 26.5 percent for Carleton, as the Knights were 1-of-14 from 3-point range.
 
Page hit a pair of free throws to give the Knights a 47-44 lead barely a minute into the second half, but the Vikings used a 14-0 burst over the next five minutes to build a 58-47 advantage.
 
The Knights looked to close the gap, and when Frisch converted a layup with 11:20 to go, it pulled Carleton to within 60-56. Unfortunately, the Knights went cold again, and Bethany Lutheran used a 24-6 run spanning the next seven minutes to put the game out of reach.
 
Page finished 4-of-6 from the field, including 3-of-4 from long range as he totaled 13 points. Harris contributed 11 points off the bench, while Gibbens had 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
 
Five players finished in double figures for Bethany Lutheran, with Brian Smith leading the way with his 19-point, nine-assist effort.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will regroup before opening MIAC play next Wednesday, Nov. 17 with a women's-men's doubleheader against Concordia College-Moorhead. The women tipoff at 5:45 p.m. with the men slated for a 7:45 p.m. start.