Mishawaka, Ind. — The Bethel Men’s Basketball team came up with a big Crossroads League win Wednesday night at the Wiekamp Center, thumping NAIA #16 Marian University 87-72.
It was an ominous start for the Pilots as the game started with a 10-2 run by the Knights. Taeshon Cherry triggered the Marian hot start by scoring on three straight possessions. But the Pilots were not down long after senior Drew Lutz sparked the offensive response with eight points in five possessions, including a triple to put the Pilots up 15-14 at 12:41 in the first half. This was the only lead change of the game, as Bethel would hold the advantage the rest of the way.
The Pilots led by seven points on a layup by junior Nathan Aerts to give them a 29-22 cushion with 6:47 remaining in the first half. Aerts would have 11 total points in the opening stanza, while Lutz scored 13 points on 50% (5-10) shooting going into the break.
The second half started with the Knights chipping down the Pilot lead to three by 11:45, but Aerts responded with a layup, and Lutz followed with a three-pointer to grow the lead to eight points. Tanguy Touze then added to the mix, scoring 10 points in six possessions and building the Pilots’ advantage to 70-56.
Junior guard Trent Edwards showed some magic of his own with a couple of step-back buckets and tough drives down the lane to score all nine of his points in the second half and seal the Pilots 87-72 victory.
Drew Lutz led the team in scoring with 19 points, and Nathan Aerts wasn’t too far behind with 18 points of his own, while Tanguy Touze came alive in the second half to tally 15 points. Alonis Peciulus chipped in with 12 points and a team high 8 rebounds and Brandon Hunt added 11 points.
The Knights only made one triple the entire game, which came in the second half. Bethel outshot the Knights 36% to 5% from beyond the three-point arc.
Bethel is now 16-8 on the season and 8-6 in league play, tying Marian for fourth place in the Crossroads League standings. The Pilots are now 9-1 at the Wiekamp Athletic Center.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
• Tonight’s win was Bethel’s 5h win of the season over ranked opponents.
• The Pilots avenged their 78-75 loss on Nov. 30 in Indianapolis, Ind., to #5 Marian at the time.
• 6 of Bethel’s 8 losses on the season are to teams ranked in the NAIA’s Top 25, five of which are Crossroads League opponents.
NEXT TIME OUT.
Bethel moves to their next test against NAIA sixth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan, who is currently in second place under #7 Grace College by one game.