Landon Engelage sets new career-high, but Bethel handles UHSP

(Photo courtesy of Linda Mueller)

ST. LOUIS, MO. - Monday night at the UHSP Gymnasium, the Eutectics and Bethel Wildcats got together to open the December portion of the schedule. In the first meeting between the two schools since 2009, the Wildcats improved to 10-0 against UHSP since 2001 with a 100-68 win.

The first half featured each game going on key lengthy runs. Kyan Arrandale twice tied the game early with layups knotting things at 16 and 18. Landon Engelage nailed a triple to put UHSP on top 21-18, but the Wildcats tied things back up at 21 and 23 on Querrion Gadson buckets. Arrandale made a pair of free throws to give the home club a 27-23 advantage before the first Bethel surge. Dwight Reed hit a layup that capped a 19-0 run for the Cats that spanned 4:30 as Bethel took a 42-27 lead. Back-to-back triples by RJ Steckler and Arrandale cut the deficit to 42-33. The Eutectics eventually got as close as four before the half as Bethel led 46-40 at the break.

The Eutectics were hoping they would be able to continue their last first half momentum into half two, but instead the Wildcats turned up the offense and put UHSP in hole they were never able to climb out of. Not that Bethel was bad in the first half as they shot 43.5%, but in the second half they connected on better than half their shots as they were 23-of-45 from the floor for 51%. Over the first 10:58 of the second, the visitors from Tennessee outscored the Purple and Gold 37-17 as they took an 83-57 advantage. The Eutectics did attempt a final run at the Cats as they went on an 8-0 thanks to a Jas Suvalija three followed by a layup, free throw and three-ball from Engelage. UHSP cut the deficit to 83-66 and were able to get the ball back. Suvalija would miss on in-rhythm three that would have cut the margin to 14. Instead, Bethel closed the game on a 17-2 run to finish out a 1-1 trip to St. Louis in a three day stretch after falling to Missouri Baptist on Saturday.

Landon Engelage was certainly a bright spot for UHSP pouring in a career-high 30 points on 8-of-18 shooting, but going 11-of-14 from the foul line. Engelage added 15 rebounds in the loss. Kyan Arrandale scored 11 points, but his night was cut short after he left with an ankle injury and would not return. Kendan Maddox led the way for Bethel with 20 points missing only one of his ten field goal attempts. Querrion Gadsen went for 17 points for the Wildcats while Jose Nazario added 11 points. After shooting a season-low 37.5% from the floor in their Saturday loss to the Spartans, Bethel connected to the tune of 47.3% against UHSP while the Eutectics themselves shot a season-low 28%. UHSP unloaded 42 three-point shots in the game, hitting 11 (26.2%) while the Cats were 3-for-17 (17.6%). The Wildcats won the rebound battle, 62-43 while also outscoring the Eutectics in the paint 60-16.

UHSP (1-8) is idle until the weekend when they travel to Moberly, MO to meet the Central Christian College of the Bible Saints in a 4:00pm tip. The Eutectics beat the Saints 98-92 back on Nov. 11 for their lone win this season. The Eutectics are not back home until they play host to Saint Xavier on Dec. 20.