UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill. — The Pilots won their second straight game in their 93-80 road win over the Governors State Jaguars on Wednesday night.
The Jaguars paced well with the Pilots in the first seven minutes, not allowing more than a five-point lead until Bethel began to maintain a two-possession lead with Clay Hilliard’s long-range bucket at 10:38.
Drew Lutz and Preston Phillips got the Pilots to their first double-digit lead, starting with Lutz’s dropping two at the charity stripe, followed by Phillips’ layup to make it 34-21 at 5:44 until the half.
Lutz pulled up from mid-range at 3:49 to raise the Pilots to a 21-point lead, but the Pilots would go into halftime up 45-30.
Bethel held on to a double-digit lead through the second half with the help of Luke McBride’s 12 points, Preston Phillips’ 13 points, and Drew Lutz’s 12 points.
The Pilots doubled Governors States’ rebound totals in the second half with 10 offensive boards and grabbed 18 defensive rebounds.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Preston Phillips had his third double-double of the season with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Phillips scored 20+ points for the second time this season, the last being his 23 points against Holy Cross (Ind.).
- Luke McBride set three career-highs with 21 points, six made field goals, and four made three-pointers.
- Clay Hilliard shot 50% from the field in his second game as a Pilot.
- The Pilots set a team season-high of 55 total rebounds.
NEXT TIME OUT
The road trip continues with the (RV) Cumberland Phoenix in Lebanon, Tenn., on Monday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. before returning home on Saturday, Dec. 30, to take on the IU East Redwolves at 3 p.m. on the Bethel Sports Network.