UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, OH -- Sophomore forward Austin Fowler (Farmington Hills, MI/Brother Rice) scored a game-high 20 points, but the Case Western Reserve University men's basketball team went scoreless for the final 8:38 en route to an 81-55 loss to Bethany University (WV) in the consolation game of the John Steadman Classic hosted by John Carroll University.
With the loss, the Spartans lose their fifth straight and drop to 1-5 overall. With their win, the Bisons improve to 3-3.
Bethany opened the game on an 8-1 run ending in a British Alexander layup at 17:00. The Spartans answered with a 12-4 run and led 13-11 when senior wing Reid Anderson (Avon Lake, OH/St. Edward) completed a three-point play at 14:25. The score tied four times during the next 5:55, including at 20-20 when Fowler scored on a layup at 8:30.
The Spartans then scored five more to build their largest lead of the game, at 25-20, when freshman point guard Mike Byrne (Newton, PA/Holy Ghost) connected on a three-pointer at 6:18. Undaunted, the Bisons scored 11 straight to lead 31-25 when Dustin Opalka hit a triple with 2:45 left in the half. The lead grew to eight, at 35-27, when Brady Pacific hit a layup with 43 seconds left on the clock.
In the second half, Case got to within two, at 37-35, when Fowler hit a three at 16:37. Bethany quickly rebuilt its advantage to 10, at 47-37, on a James Barton triple at 14:29. The Spartans made one last rally and cut their deficit to four, at 59-55, when freshman guard Tim Chung (Cypress, CA/Los Alamitos) hit one of his game-high four three-pointers with 8:38 left to play.
However, the Bisons scored 22 straight and did not allow another Spartan point for the duration of the game.
Fowler led all scorers with 20 points and was 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Chung scored 15 and Anderson totaled seven points, seven rebounds and three assists on his way to earning all-tournament team honors.
Bethany had five players in double-figures, including Alexander with a team-high 16 points.
The Spartans are idle until a December 6 road contest at Kenyon College. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.