MISHAWAKA, Ind. — Sophomore guard and Tennessee native Jameir Jefferson had a career night from the floor, shooting an impressive 6-for-7 (85%) and 12-17 (70%) from the free-throw line for 25 points against the Cumberland Phoenix (Tenn.) (0-4) in the Gates Gymnasium Wednesday night.
The Bethel Pilots (5-0) had three others drop 18 points, including Alonas Peciulis (5-6 shooting and 8-8 from the free-throw line), Preston Phillips (5-8 from the floor and 7-10 from the line) and Luke McBride (5-11 shooting and 4-for-8 from beyond the arc).
In the first half, Phillips shot 3-for-4 from the floor for 12 points, with McBride dropping 11 points with 4-for-8 shooting and 3-for-6 from deep, along with Jefferson, who also hit 11 points from a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor, 1-for-1 from beyond the arc and 4-4 from the line.
The Pilots dominated the board in the first half 25-13 and followed up in the second with another 18 for a total of 43 to CU’s 28.
Through the first five minutes, Jefferson set the tone with a huge two-handed slam at 13:13 to make it 15-9.
Bethel couldn’t get past the seven-point hump until 12:25 with McBride’s triple 18-9, but he drained another at 8:26 to give Bethel their first double-digit lead of the half.
With the Pilots slowly climbing, Phillips threw down a big slam at 2:57 to raise the advantage to 23 points, 48-25.
Bethel went into half-time with a 53-28 lead and quickly climbed to a 29-point cushion, with Peciulis putting it off the glass at 17:41 in the second half.
Cumberland managed to drop the deficit to 20 points at 8:40 with a layup but was quickly deleted by Trent Edwards in the next possession with a layup of his own.
With 24 seconds remaining in regulation, CU got to the line and drained both to end the game with a Pilot win 102-86.
Bethel dropped their first 100+ point game this season with the most they have scored in the Gates Gymnasium in the 2024-25 season, the first since Nov. 29, 2023, against the Huntington Foresters 101-96. This game marks the second consecutive game that BU dropped 100+ points against the Phoenix with a 101-82 win in Tennessee on Dec. 18, 2023.
The Pilots prepare for the Holy Cross Saints at McKenna Arena on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m.