After the game was tied at six with fewer than three minutes played, the Tomcats (4-17, 0-6) used a 17-8 run over the next 6:29 to grab a 23-14 lead. Freshman forward Joe Herrmann had eight points during the stretch.
Matt Drahos' three-point play with just over a minute remaining in the half gave the Bison (18-3, 5-1) a one-point lead (33-32), a lead they would carry into the half.
Herrman's lay up at the 16:16 mark of the second period gave Thiel a 40-37 lead. Bethany used a 15-2 burst to regain the lead, going up by 10 on a Jim Deep three-pointer with 11:27 to go.
Senior guard Daryl Moore's capped a late 13-2 run by the Tomcats and cut the Bison lead to two (74-72) with just under a half-minute to play. Drahos was perfect on four free throws down the stretch in sealing the win for Bethany, their fifth in PAC and second over the Tomcats this season.
Thiel turned 20 Bison turnovers into 26 points but were outscored 28-7 by the Bethany reserves.
Drahos paced the Bison with game highs in both points (29) and rebounds (17). Deep finished with 15 while James Wallace added 10.
Herrmann had 23 points, nine rebounds and four steals for Thiel while freshman guard Ross Watson had career highs in points (18) and rebounds (8). Moore finished with 14 points and five assists.
Thiel returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 9 when they host PAC rival Westminster College. Tip off is slated for 8 p.m.