MISHAWAKA, Ind. — With tensions high in the Gates Gymnasium, the Bethel Pilots (17-6, 8-5) broke their two-game losing streak with a 95-77 win over the Saint Francis Cougars (Ind.) (12-11, 5-8) on Wednesday night.
James Anderson dropped 10 points against his former team with seven rebounds, while Drew Lutz scored 31 points on 8-for-13 and an incredible 14-15 from the charity stripe. Preston Phillips was one rebound away from a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Saint Francis chipped away and took the Pilots’ initial lead at 6:33 in the first half with a dunk by Jackson Gowdy and grew to a five-point lead at 2:40 with a three-point play by Charlie Yoder, but Drew Lutz took over with two straight trips to the line and dropped all four free throws.
With a one-point lead going into the half, the Pilots roared to an eight-point advantage with Al Peciulis’ layup in his first game back from injury. He scored eight points on 3-for-4 shooting from the field and two rebounds.
Bethel rose to a double-digit lead at 10:20 in the second half with a pair of free throws, and the Pilots kept rolling to a 95-77 win.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots will be on the road on Saturday, Feb. 10th, taking on Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.