NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Carleton College men's basketball team had five players finish in double figures—including three career highs—as the Knights knocked down a season-high 16 triples in a comprehensive 98-74 victory over Bethel University.
 
The 98 points represented a season-best for the Knights (9-6, 6-4 MIAC) and the most by a Carleton squad since scoring 103 against Trinity (TX) on Nov. 27, 2021.
 
Alex Gibbens had a stellar day, collecting a career-best 26 points, going a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range, and tying his season high with five assists. Reserves Chuck Sweat and Gabriel Cummings also hit high-water marks for their Carleton careers, as Sweat scored 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc and Cummings notched 13 points on 3-of-5 from range.
 
Matt Banovetz added 18 points, hitting 4-of-6 attempts beyond the arc while leading the Knights with seven rebounds. Reigning MIAC Offensive Player of the Week Luke Harris was the other Knight in double digits, adding 15 points.
 
It was a banner day for Carleton shooting-wise, as the Knights entered the contest shooting 42.0 percent overall and 31.3 percent from distance. On this evening, they scorched the nets to the tune of a season-best 58.5 percent from the floor and 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from 3-point range, tied for the seventh-best long-range shooting percentage in program history. The 16 triples tied for the fifth-highest single-game figure in team annals.
 
The Knights moved the ball excellently, racking up 21 assists—another season best—and only committing five turnovers.
 
Bethel (7-8, 4-6 MIAC) led 6-4 three minutes into game, but Gibbens—who scored the Knights first nine points and ended up with his third career game of at least 20 pionts—tallied five consecutive points, and the Knights played from in front the remainder of the contest.
 
Sweat came off the bench to hit 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions, making it an 18-13 game at the 12:46 mark. Carleton pushed the lead to 11, but the Royals clawed back to within
40-39 after redshirt freshman Nick Burke hit a triple with 5:16 remaining before intermission. Gibbens and Banovetz hit 3-pointers in the final two minutes of the frame, helping the Knights to a 50-44 halftime lead.
 
Gibbens hit another trey to start the second half, and at 16:34 Luke Harris picked up a steal and tossed ahead to Sam Koelling, who threw down a one-handed dunk to extend the Carleton lead to 59-49. Carleton soon began to widen the gap, going on a 10-0 run from 12:15 to 7:52 to make it 80-59.
 
Then, with 5:22 left in the contest, a long rebound fell to Koelling, who picked out a streaking Banovetz, who slammed home a dunk of his own to make it 88-61, Carleton. The Knights would bring in the second unit and close out their victory over the final minutes.
 
After keeping pace with Carleton over the opening frame, the Royals slumped in the second half, finishing on a 49.2 shooting percentage on the night and 40.9 percent from deep (9-of-22). Bethel did have four individuals in double figures, as Peyton Thomsen led with 15 points, Nick Burke scored 13 points, and Joey Kidder and Zach Doely both finished on 12 points. Kidder posted a double-double after grabbing 10 rebounds.
 
Up Next for the Knights:
Carleton has a quick turnaround, clashing with Gustavus Adolphus College on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Tipoff at West Gym is set for 7:00 PM.