GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Bethel held a decisive rebounding edge and forced the Midway offense into multiple extended lulls, as the Eagles fell 70-61 on night one of the Central Bank Jim Reid Men's Basketball Classic in Georgetown on Friday.

In a first half that featured multiple wild swings, the Eagles took a 9-7 lead on a Decoreio Smith layup 4:01 into the game, then proceeded to score just two points in the ensuing 7:52. They went just 1-of-13 from the field in that stretch with the Wildcats going on a 15-2 run to take a 22-11 lead.

Within moments, Midway had the lead back, thanks to a 13-0 run in which they went 3-of-4 from 3-point range, the last make by Preston Hoskins to give the Eagles a 24-22 lead.

They wouldn't lead again the rest of the night, unfortunately, as that run was immediately answered by 11 consecutive Bethel points.

The Wildcats mostly kept Midway at arm's length in the second half, but things got interesting when Tim Fuller, who scored all 14 of his points in the second half, hit his third 3-pointer to make it a 57-54 game with 5:49.

But that would be as close as it would get, as Midway proceeded to miss five of its next six shots. The Wildcats also did a great job preventing second-chance opportunities, out-rebounding Midway 52-34.

Amari Wales tied Fuller for the team lead with 14 points. Smith also scored 11 and tied Fuller with a team-best five rebounds while Sam Parish dished five assists for the Eagles, who fall to 3-2 and had their three-game win streak snapped.

Day two of the Jim Reid Classic brings a significant challenge, as Midway will take on host Georgetown, the NAIA's No. 17-ranked team, at 3 p.m. Saturday.