ATHERTON, Calif. – Just when it looked like Menlo College had come through with the opening half it needed everything changed.

The Oaks watched visiting Bethany storm into the break on a 12-2 run that didn’t begin until the final two minutes of the half and Menlo never seriously threatened after that in an 83-70 California Pacific Conference loss in men’s basketball on Thursday night inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion.

Julian Harris made a pair of field goals and Logan Shoffner added another to draw Menlo with a point at 28-27 with three minutes, 22 seconds left in the first half, but the Bruins answered with back-to-back three-point play to seize control. George Golden II tallied nine of his 22 first-half points during the crippling run that eventually stretched into a 30-12 run that put Bethany ahead 58-39 with 12 minutes, 28 seconds to play.

Menlo didn’t die easily, though. Trailing 60-42 with less than 12 minutes to play, the Oaks rattled off nine consecutive points that put them in position to challenge the Bruins down the stretch.

Ryan Dung had a driving score and Brandon Cochran put back his own miss the next time down the court to start the flurry. Bethany missed a pair of shots around a Dung turnover before the freshman guard tracked down his own miss and fed Chris Cobb for a 3-pointer. Jason Logan sunk two free throws on the next Menlo possession to trim the Oaks deficit to nine points with just under nine minutes to play.

With a chance to trim Bethany’s lead even more, Ari Goldman was off on a 3-point attempt and the Oaks never had a chance to get closer. The Bruins led by at least 10 points for the final seven-plus minutes of the game.

Menlo got off to its hottest home start of the season in the first nine minutes of the game. Goldman hit a pair of shots – including a 3-pointer - while Cobb drained a trey of his own and Cochran made a pair from the line as the Oaks used a 10-2 run to stake themselves to a 17-9 advantage just more the nine minutes in. The Bruins answered with three baskets over the span of 30 seconds as Menlo’s comfortable start was disturbed. Bethany took the lead for good on a Kenny Thompson 3-pointer with six minutes to play in the opening half.

Jason Logan came off the bench to lead the Oaks with 17 points while Cochran was a force inside with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Cobb and Andrew Young chipped in eight and six points, respectively.

Golden finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds for Bethany. Dominique Dunham scored 15, Imhotet Amen-Ra had 13, and Thompson added 10.

Menlo drops to 3-3 in conference and 5-10 overall. The Oaks host Simpson on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Bethany is now 4-1 in the Cal Pac and 7-8 overall.