NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Jeremy Beckler scored 21 of his game and season-high 30 points in the second half to lead five Knights in double figures as the Carleton College men's basketball team earned a 99-91 triumph over visiting Bethany Lutheran. The Knights tied the school record with 18 made 3-pointers, including a career-best seven triples by Matt Banovetz.
 
Carleton won its fifth straight game and improved to 9-1 (.900) on the season, while Bethany Lutheran moved to 10-2 (.833) overall. Illinois College (12-1, .923) is the only team from NCAA Region IX with a higher winning percentage so far this year.
 
The Knights tied the school record with 18 made 3-pointers (see chart below) on a team-record 43 attempts for a 42-percent success rate. Banovetz, Beckler (3), Beck Page (3), Alex Gibbens (2), and Chuck Sweat (2) had drained multiple triples in the game.
 
"Great win for our team tonight against a very talented and well coached Bethany Lutheran team," said Carleton head coach Ryan Kershaw. "Bethany plays at one of the fastest paces of any Division III team in the country, so we knew it was going to be a game with high number of possessions and a lot of points. Our guys were up to the challenge, and it was great to see us get so many meaningful contributions from so many different players. To be able to finish our non-conference schedule with a 5-0 record before heading back into conference play next week is very satisfying."
 
Bethany Lutheran led by as many as eight points in the first half and held a 46-44 margin at halftime. It was still a two-point game at the 16-minute mark of the second half before the Knights put together a 26-10 run over the next eight minutes to build their largest lead of the contest, 80-66. Carleton hit six 3-pointers during the run—two each by Beckler, Page, and Gibbens—and maintained at least a six-point advantage the rest of the way.
 
Beckler has scored 20+ points in seven of his last eight games and 22 times overall in his career. This 30-point effort was the second-highest of his career, behind only a 32-point game against Hope College on Dec. 18, 2019.
 
Banovetz finished with 23 points, the second-highest total of his career as his seven 3-pointers are tied for sixth in recorded team history (see chart below). The reigning MIAC Defensive Player of the Week also pulled down a nine rebounds and had three steals and two blocks.

Luke Harris chipped in 15 points with five assists, Gibbens added 12 points, and Page contributed 11 points off the bench.
 
Drew Sagedahl poured in 24 points to lead Bethany Lutheran, while Jax Madson added 23 points and six assists. Hunter Nielsen finished with 16 points, nine boards, and two steals with Justin Schrupp chipping in 10 points.
 
Both teams shot 45.3 percent overall (34-for-75) with Carleton making four additional 3-pointers and four extra free throws (13-of-16, 81 percent). The Vikings were 14-of-41 from beyond the arc (34 percent) and 9-of-12 at the charity stripe.
 
Carleton's 99 points matched its season high, while Bethany Lutheran was actually held below its season average of 96.3 points per contest entering the day.
 
NOTES:
• Carleton went 5-0 in non-conference action for the first time since the 2007-08 campaign.
• Beckler now has 1,038 career points, moving him past Tom Klimisch (1,023 points) and August Schlaffer (1,013) and into 28th place on Carleton's all-time scoring list.
 
Most 3-point field goals made (team)
1.  18 – vs. Macalester (18-of-32); 1/6/93
1.  18 – vs. Macalester (18-of-32); 1/11/95
1.  18 – vs. Bethany Lutheran (18-of-43); 12/30/22
4.  16 – at Hamline; 1/03/01
4.  16 – at University of Chicago (16-of-31); 11/24/01
4.  16 – at Concordia-Moorhead (16-of-26); 1/23/22
4.  16 – at Northwestern-St. Paul (16-of-36); 12/13/22
8.  15 – vs. Augsburg (15-of-27); 2/4/95
8.  15 – at Martin Luther (15-of-34); 12/5/22
10.  14 – Concordia-Moorhead; 1996
10.  14 – at Bethel (14-of-29); 1/19/05
10.  14 – vs. Augsburg; 1/11/97
 
Most 3-point field goals made (player)
1.  10, Scott Krohn; Macalester; 1/6/93
2.  9, Jeff Jensen; at Hamline; 01/03/01
3.  8, Dave Heslam; Hawaii Loa College; 11/27/90
3.  8, Scott Krohn; Macalester; 12/14/91
3.  8, Kent Hanson; Augsburg; 02/01/20
6.  7, Scott Krohn; BYU-Hawaii; 11/26/90
6.  7, Jeff Jensen; Colorado College; 11/26/99
6.  7, Anthony Baquero, Augsburg, 12/07/02
6.  7, Anthony Baquero; at Hawaii Pacific; 11/29/04
6.  7, Jake Phillips; at Hamline 1/25/06
6.  7, Jake Phillips; Macalester; 2/14/07
6.  7, Tom Sawatzke; at Hawaii Pacific; 11/24/12
6.  7, Tom Sawatzke; at Macalester; 2/9/13
6.  7, Kent Hanson; at Bethany Lutheran; 12/16/19
6.  7, Beck Page; at Concordia Moorhead; 01/23/22
6.  7, Matt Banovetz, vs. Bethany Lutheran; 12/30/22