McKenzie, Tenn.- The Blue Mountain Christian Toppers put together a strong road effort on Friday night but came up just short, falling 84–79 to the Bethel Wildcats in McKenzie, Tennessee.
Blue Mountain opened the contest with confidence, striking first and trading baskets with Bethel through the opening minutes. 
The Toppers found early rhythm on the offensive end and stayed composed as the Wildcats began to apply pressure. 
Bethel used a late first-half push to create separation, but Blue Mountain remained within striking distance, trailing 44–41 at the break.
The second half featured steady back-and-forth play as the Toppers continued to answer every Bethel run.
 Blue Mountain leaned on strong guard play and timely perimeter shooting to stay close, cutting the margin multiple times in the final ten minutes. 
Despite a late rally that kept the outcome in doubt down the stretch, Bethel's efficiency and control on the glass proved decisive in the closing possessions.
Offensively, Blue Mountain was led by Michael Hill, who finished with a team-high 23 points and added seven rebounds in an all-around performance. 
Jalen Boyd-Savage provided a major spark from the perimeter, scoring 19 points while knocking down four three-pointers. 
Gavin Shannon also reached double figures, contributing 13 points as the Toppers placed three players in double-digit scoring.
Blue Mountain showed resilience and competitiveness throughout the night against a strong Bethel squad, with the performance highlighting continued growth as the season progresses. They will face the Rust Bearcats on Monday night.
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