Freeman's 26 points paces Bethune-Cookman past North Dakota

BETHUNE-COOKMAN 79, NORTH DAKOTA 67

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MX – Brayon Freeman scored a season-high 26 points for Bethune-Cookman, and the Wildcats forced 17 turnovers on the way to topping North Dakota at the 2024 Men’s Cancun Challenge on Tuesday.

Bethune-Cookman (2-4) will take on Gardner-Webb for the Mayan Division championship on Wednesday. North Dakota (3-3) will face Southeastern Louisiana in the third-place game Wednesday.

The Wildcats held a five-point lead at halftime and ran off the first seven points of the second half to go ahead, 53-41, on a 3-pointer from Jesus Carralero Martin. Bethune-Cookman’s lead shrank to eight on a couple of occasions but otherwise remained in control throughout.

Trey Thomas closed with 17 points and six rebounds for BCU; Daniel Rouzan chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds.  

For North Dakota, Treysen Eaglestaff had 20 points and Mier Panoam finished with 19 points. The Fighting Hawks shot just 7-for-31 from 3-point range but did have a 46-39 lead in rebounds.

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