Although it was an exhibition game, it still stings all the same as the Bethel Wildcats fell to The University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawks 96-63. The Skyhawks shot 50% from the floor and built a 24 point halftime lead that they never relinquished.

Bethel had a hard time finding the bottom of the basket in the first half shooting 34.5% (10-29) from the floor. Hitting three pointers was even harder as Bethel was only 1-6 (16.7%). On the other side, UTM shot 50% from the floor and the Skyhawks Lester Hudson was on fire from behind the arc going 3-4, scoring 19 in the first half. UTM’s Gerald Robinson also hit double digits, scoring 13 in the first. Bethel’s Akinfolarin Sessi led the way dropping in eight in the first. Derek Demaree was second for the Wildcats scoring five.

Bethel didn’t fair much better in the second half, but they did improve from three point range. Bethel shot 6-13 (46%) on three pointers in the second half with Brennen Ward leading the way hitting 3-4. Ward finished with nine points. Although UTM cooled in the second half going 4-16 on threes, they stayed at 50% from the floor. The Skyhwaks also got 10 more looks at the charity stripe than Bethel did in the second half.

Sessi led the Wildcats with 10 points on the night and had six boards. Ward had nine, followed by Octavius Thompson with eight points and a team leading seven boards. Leon Sewell also finished with eight points and pulled four boards. Brian French had six points and five rebounds.