NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Jeremy Beckler (Sr./Lino Lakes, Minn./White Bear Lake) poured in a game-high 35 points to lead the Carleton College men's basketball team to an 86-81 victory over Bethel University, a result that allowed the Knights to extend their lead atop the MIAC standings to three games with only four contests remaining in the regular season.
 
This was Beckler's fourth career game of at least 30 points and his third such effort this season. The 35 points fell one shy of his career high.
 
Prior to the game, Carleton (18-3, 13-3 MIAC) celebrated the five seniors on the Knights' roster: Beckler, Miller Davison (Sr./Boulder, Colo./Boulder), Brad Lee (Sr./La Canada Flintridge, Calif./Maranatha), Beck Page (Sr./Longmont, Colo./Longmont), and Matt Wyffels (Sr./Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial).
 
"I am so happy for our seniors to be able to celebrate a win on Senior Day today," said Carleton head coach Ryan Kershaw. "This particular class has had to endure quite a bit during their four years at Carleton - athletically, academically, and socially due to the pandemic. They have shown great resiliency and perseverance throughout their time here. Each of them is all about the team, and their collective leadership and team-first ethos is a huge aspect as to the success we have experienced as a program this season."
 
Carleton got off to a slow start and trailed 15-7 five minutes into the game, but the Knights responded with a 28-7 run over the next eight minutes to seemingly take control of the game.
 
Bethel, which had won 5 of its last 6 games, took a timeout and immediately answered with a 12-1 burst to tie the game at 36-36 with 2:56 left in the opening half.
 
Carleton managed a 44-40 lead at intermission, but neither side could open up much breathing room during a second half that featured nine ties and four lead changes.
 
Carleton led 79-77 before Alex Gibbens (Jr./New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) hit a 3-pointer with 1:00 remaining. The Knights then hit four free throws over the final 35 seconds to seal the victory.
 
Carleton received 20 points from point guard Luke Harris (So./Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont), his sixth game of at least 20 points this season. Gibbens contributed a season-best 18 points, coming off the bench this time in order to allow Lee to make his first collegiate start.
 
Chuck Sweat (Jr./Glencoe, Ill./New Trier) scored only four points but pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds to match his career best.
 
Zach Doely paced Bethel with 27 points and had seven rebounds with four steals. Avery Mast chipped in 18 points, while Payton Thomsen and Joey Kidder contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Carleton shot 48 percent overall and 40 percent (10-of-25) from beyond the arc. Bethel connected at the 46 percent rate, with an 8-of-27 showing (30 percent) from long range.
 
With four games remaining in the regular season and a postseason berth already secured, Carleton's 18 victories this season is already tied for the fourth-highest total in the program's 114-year history.
 
Most Wins in Carleton Men's Basketball History
21-7 (.750) in 2005-06
19-8 (.704) in 2007-08
19-10 (.655) in 2009-10
18-4 (.818) in 1951-52
18-4 (.818) in 1952-53
18-8 (.692) in 2010-11
18-9 (.667) in 2016-17
18-3 (.857) in 2022-23
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton hosts Saint John's University on Wednesday, Feb. 8 before closing out the regular season with three consecutive road games.