LINDSBORG, Kan. — Sterling College edged Bethany College 80-78 in a dramatic conference matchup at Ray D. Hahn Gymnasium, on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Sterling built a lead as large as 18 points early in the second half, and a late defensive effort secured the victory despite the Swedes’ 49-point surge in the final period.
Sterling opened the first half with an early surge, establishing a strong presence on the court. Joseph Oparaeke initiated the scoring with a layup, contributing to an initial 7–0 run. Sterling demonstrated effective ball movement, with Jaivion Reed and Ethan Wiley each connecting on key plays to maintain momentum while the defense prevented the Swedes from scoring a field goal until 13:13 in the first half.
The Warriors maintained control throughout the half, capitalizing on defensive stops and converting opportunities into points. The team extended their lead to 15 points with a three-pointer from Wiley at the 34-second mark. The half concluded with Sterling leading the Swedes 41–29, setting a solid foundation for the remainder of the game.
Sterling opened the second half with a strong start, highlighted by a three-pointer from Amiri Ndayisaba at 19:41, assisted by Reed. Julian Smith followed with another three-pointer, extending Sterling’s lead to 18 points. Despite a brief surge from Bethany College, including a dunk by Keddric Mays II, Sterling maintained control with contributions from Oparaeke and a defensive stop by Chris Drake.
As the half progressed, Sterling’s offense was bolstered by key plays, including a layup by Damond Daniels at 15:51, assisted by Smith. The Swedes managed to close the gap, tying the game at 59 with a layup and free throw by Mays at 8:56. However, Sterling reclaimed the lead with a layup by Drake at 8:20.
At 2:14 the Swedes reclaimed and extended the lead to seven. However, Sterling demonstrated resilience in the final minutes. Ziri Blackwood hit a crucial three-pointer at 1:21, assisting the team in narrowing the margin. A layup from Drake and another three-pointer from blackwood brough the Warriors to within one.
Sterling’s defense held firm in the final seconds of the game and Blackwood’s layup at 0:14 secured a one-point lead. Another defensive stop by the Warriors and a made free throw from Blackwood gave Sterling the edge to finish the game ahead, 80-78.
Reed scored 13 points and converted all five of his free throw attempts. Blackwood added 15 points, hitting three 3-pointers in the second half. Oparaeke posted 12 points and recorded four blocks, along with three steals and eight rebounds. Drake collected nine rebounds and blocked two shots.
With the win, Sterling moves to 3-3 overall, 2-0 in conference and are set to take on Avila University (6-1, 2-0) in the Gleason Center on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 3 p.m.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
