ST. PAUL, Minn. – University of Northwestern Men's Basketball hosted Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday afternoon for a critical conference contest in the Ericksen Center for the Eagles' Hoops Hysteria game. UNW entered the game 2-2 in UMAC play while BLC, who has recieved votes in the national polls this season, led the conference as the lone undefeated team at 4-0. The underdog Eagles rose to the occasion to earn a thrilling 83-79 victory over the Vikings.
 
Northwestern started strong out the gate, going on an 8-0 run to open the game. The Vikings battled back to go up 12-11, but Kyle Kaemingk (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) hit a three to give UNW the lead back. A BLC layup tied the game at 14-14, but Parker Behne (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) answered with another Eagle three to put Northwestern up 17-14 and give UNW a lead that they hold through the rest of the first half.
 
The Eagles led by as many as 11 points in the opening half, going up 37-26 on a Kaemingk jumper with 7:11 go until halftime. The Vikings would go on to rally to cut their deficit down to four points at the half, the Eagles leading 45-41.
 
After halftime, Bethany Lutheran scored the opening two baskets of the second half to tie the game at 45-45. The Eagles fended off the Vikings to retake the lead, but later lost it to a BLC layup with 14:20 to go as Bethany Lutheran took a 54-52 lead.
 
The two conference rivals battled back and fourth down the stretch, with neither team able to break away from the other. BLC made a pair of free-throws with 8:13 remaining to take a 64-63 lead, but Micah Pocernich (Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell-Wright) answered with a layup to give UNW the lead again. The Eagles would build that lead up to as many as nine points, going up 79-70 with 2:06 to go.
 
Bethany Lutheran would rally and make a jumper with 22 seconds remaining to cut the Eagles lead down to two points up 81-79, but Northwestern would make a pair of free throws and stand strong on defense to close out the thrilling conference battle with an 83-79 win.
 
The three-point shooting of the Eagles proved a key to their victory. UNW made 7-of-16 from long range in the game, shooting 43.8 percent. The Vikings, who have made 38.2 percent from three-point range this season, were held to just 4-of-15 for 26.7 percent by a stalwart Eagle defensive performance.
 
Kaemingk led Northwestern with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, making 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and hauling in seven boards. Caleb Hoilien (Minneapolis, Minn./Hope Academy) followed with 18 points, shooting 8-of-16 and grabbing six rebounds. Henry Fahnbulleh (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) had a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double and led the Eagles with three assists.
 
Up next, Northwestern will travel to Wisconsin to take on the UW-Superior Yellowjackets in a conference battle on Friday, January 20, at 5:30 P.M. in Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. The Eagles will next play at home on February 10.