MANKATO, Minn. – Tobias Averill and Sam Koelling both had double-doubles, but the Carleton College men's basketball team dropped a 79-77 contest at Bethany Lutheran College.
 
Four players finished in double figures for the Knights (2-2), led by Averill's career-high 23 points to go along with 10 boards for his third career double-double. Matt Drake chipped in an even 20 points, his third consecutive game of at least 20 tallies. Koelling accounted for 18 points and 10 boards in posting his sixth career double-double. Josh Engelberg scored 10 points.
 
Carleton scored the game's first six points and raced out to a 14-3 lead, but Bethany Lutheran (4-3) responded with a 12-2 spurt. The Vikings eventually carried a 40-38 lead into halftime.
 
The Knights used a 12-1 burst early in the second stanza to build a 60-52 advantage with 13:37 still to play, but the hosts raced back thanks to a 14-0 run over the next four minutes.
 
Bethany Lutheran maintained a 77-69 lead with three minutes remaining, but Engelberg scored the Knights' next six points and Drake converted in the paint to pull the visitors within 78-77 with 0:37 to play.
 
On the ensuing possession, Max Briggs drew a foul and split a pair of free throws to give BLC a two-point cushion, and Carleton's bid for a game-winning 3-pointer was off the mark and time expired.
 
Carleton shot 46.0 percent overall but was 4-of-19 (21.1 percent) from beyond the arc. Bethany Lutheran made 44.1 percent of its shots, and was 9-of-31 (29.0 percent) from 3-point range.
 
The Knights made all 15 free throws they attempted in the contest.
 
Jack Brockman had 18 points to pace the Vikings, who received 16 points from both Will Walter and Briggs.
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton hosts Saint Mary's University for the MIAC opener on Wednesday, Dec. 3 with a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.