NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Sam Koelling's putback layup with only 0.4 seconds remaining completed the comeback for the Carleton College men's basketball as the Knights (3-1) rallied from 15 points down to knock off Bethany Lutheran College, 78-76, at West Gym.
 
"To say I am proud of the group would be a significant understatement," said Carleton head coach Ryan Kershaw. "We really didn't have a lot go our way for most of the game, but the guys stayed in the fight and gave us a chance. The comeback in the last five minutes of the game tonight was a direct result of the players resiliency and refusal to give up. This win was entirely about the players, and I am immensely proud of and happy for each and every person in our program."
 
Luke Harris had game-highs of 27 points and nine rebounds to pace Carleton, which also received a 17-point effort from first-year point guard Matt Drake. Koelling finished with 10 points, eight of those coming in the second half. Tobias Averill added nine points and three steals, while Patrick Smith came off the bench to score seven points and grab seven rebounds.
 
Bethany Lutheran (1-3) led by as many as 15 points during the second half and held a 72-60 advantage with 5:15 to play. The Knights refused to go away and closed the contest on an 18-4 run.
 
Josh Engelberg got the rally started with 17-foot jumper that sparked a mini 8-0 run.
 
Drew Sagedahl tallied 21 points to lead Bethany Lutheran, and his bucket with 2:01 remaining gave the Vikings a 76-71 lead but would prove to be the visitors' final points of the contest.
 
Koelling found Gabriel Cummings for a corner 3-pointer, and Drake later swished a runner in the lane to tie the score at 76-76 with 35 seconds left. Bethany Lutheran drained the clock but came up empty. Harris grabbed the rebound, raced up the floor, but missed an off-balance shot. Koelling soared to corral the rebound and tallied the game winner. A desperation heave from Sagedahl at the buzzer was off the mark
 
Carleton trailed 47-36 at halftime before out-scoring Bethany Lutheran 42-29 during the second half. The Knights committed 18 turnovers but pulled down 11 offensive rebounds, none bigger than Koelling's collection in the closing moments.
 
Jax Madson contributed 18 points for the Vikings, while Kegan Heiderscheidt had eight points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
 
Carleton shot 44.6 percent overall and 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) beyond the arc compared to 46.3 percent overall for the visitors, who made only 3-of-15 attempts from long range.

Carleton's first four games this season have been decided by a combined total of nine points.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton will take a break for fall term final exams and the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to action on Saturday, Nov. 30 with a 3:00 p.m. tip-off against University of Wisconsin-River Falls.