MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Pilots forced 21 turnovers and took advantage of 28 points and 46 points in the paint in Bethel’s (4-0) 78-57 win over the IU-South Bend Titans Saturday.
Preston Phillips shot 7-for-13 (54%) for his third 10+ point game this season (17) coupled with six rebounds and seven assists. Alonas Peciulis went 8-for-13 from the floor (61%) for 17 points and eight rebounds, and Luke McBride also scored 17 points with 7-for-12 (58%) shooting from the floor and 3-for-7 (42%) from three-point range. Jameir Jefferson was a high flyer with seven boards.
The first five minutes of the game were a battle. The Pilots were up 7-5 after Peciulis split a pair at the line at 15:03, but the Titans splashed a triple on the next possession at 14:40 to take their first lead of the game, 8-7.
Bethel jumped to a six-point lead of 16-10 from McBride’s mid-range jumper at 8:18 16-10, but two consecutive IUSB layups cut the lead to 16-14 at 7:29.
With 23 seconds to go in the half, McBride hit his first triple of the half to get back to a six-point advantage, but the Titans responded with a lay-in off the glass with four seconds left and went into halftime 25-21 BU.
IUSB tied the game with a layup at 19:10 in the second half, but Bethel went on a tear with 12 unanswered points before the Titans broke up the run with a jumper at 14:46, 37-27.
Trent Edwards put the Pilots up by 22 at 10:10 55-33 and bounced in and out of a 20+ point lead until 2:07 when the benches saw the floor and rode to a 78-57 Bethel win.
Bethel continues their non-conference slate with Cumberland Phoenix on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Gates Gymnasium.