Riverland was unable to tie down high-scoring Bethany Lutheran and ended up losing a 99-75 MCCC South Division men’s basketball contest Saturday night in Mankato.

The host Vikings are the second-highest scoring team in the division, and proved it with six players finishing the game in double figures. Maurice Lewers led all players with 21 points, but it was Bethany Lutheran’s depth in the post that kept Riverland (6-16, 1-9) from netting its second division win.

&uot;They had 16 putback points, that’s a lot of points off offensive rebounds,&uot; said Riverland coach David Lillemon. &uot;Athletically they were way too much for us. They pounded it inside and their balance gave us a lot of problems.&uot;

Bethany also boasts the second-best free-throw shooting team in the league, and proof-positive came in the form of a 28-for-34 performance from the charity stripe. Riverland, the top free-throw team, was just 10-for-16.

The Vikings (15-11, 7-4) also grabbed 23 offensive boards and got 35 points off their bench.

&uot;They constantly pounded it inside,&uot; Lillemon said. &uot;We actually tried to make them shoot the three a little bit more because they’re known for that. They just gave us fits all night long.&uot;

Austin High School graduate Adam Kasper led the Blue Devils with 21 points on 5-of-6 three-point shooting. Curt Peterson added 14 despite a sore hip, and Andy Stouvenel threw in 13.

Riverland finishes its home schedule with ‘Packer Night’ Wednesday against Rochester Community Technical College. The women start at 6 p.m. and the men’s game will follow. All Austin High School students wearing red can get in free with their student ID, and Packer parents sporting crimson will get in for half off.

Two former Packer players — Corey Christopherson and Tony Ball — play for Rochester (17-6, 8-3). Kasper did not play against his former teammates in Riverland’s trip to Rochester in the Yellowjackets’ victory the first time through.

Boxscore:

RIVERLAND (75) — Kelly Connaughty 2, Curt Peterson 14, Adam Kasper 21, Calvin Morris 4, John Tillo 10, Andy Stouvenel 13, Jeff Roemhildt 9, Mark Skellenger 2.

BETHANY LUTHERAN (99) — Josh Kasper 2, Alfonso Mayfield 14, Maurice Lewers 22, Shomari Owens 12, Travis Bredeson 6, Jesse Pfeifer 12, Cedric Dildy 9, Colby Swanson 10, Jamil Conley 12.

Halftime score–BL 44, Riv 34. Three-pointers–Riv 11-28 (Kasper 5, Peterson 4); BL 5-15. Free-throws–Riv 10-16, BL 28-34. Rebounds–Riv 36 (Tillo 8, Kasper, Roemhildt 7); BL 54.