Pilots end skid, defeat Goshen 91-80

Mishawaka, Ind. – The Bethel College Pilots men’s basketball team jumped out to a large lead and withstood a late Goshen rally to snap a skid of four straight losses, behind double-doubles by two Pilot seniors, as the senior class won their 100th career game.

GAME VITALS

• Score: Bethel def. Goshen 91-80
• Records:  Bethel (18-7, 7-6) | Goshen (10-15, 3-10)
• NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll: Bethel – No. 13 | Goshen – not rated
• Location: Wiekamp Athletic Center | Bethel College | Mishawaka, Ind.

STAT TRACKER

• Gage Ott: 14 pts, 13 reb, 3 ast
• Tanner Shepherd: 21 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast
• Trey’von Covington: 21 pts, 3 reb, 5-6 ft
• Kyle Hartman: 9 pts, 7 ast, 5 reb

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• The Pilots used a 24-7 run to end the first half and open the second half to take a 22-point lead. The Pilots would extend it to as much as 24.
• The Maple Leafs used a 15-5 run to pull within 13 at 84-71 with 56 seconds remaining, but the Pilots went 7-8 from the line down the stretch to seal the victory.
• Tanner Shepherd notched his first career double-double behind a career-high 12 rebounds and team-high 21 points.
• The Pilots outrebounded the Maple Leafs 53-33 and held the advantage at 13-8 in second chance points.
• The Pilots outscored the Maple Leafs 30-12 in the paint and shot .539 from the field as a team for the game.
• The senior class of Gage Ott, Tanner Shepherd, Kyle Thompson, and Will Stueve won their 100^th career game, becoming the 20^th class in program history to reach the century mark.

COACH LIGHTFOOT SAYS

• “It’s good to get back on the winning side of things. I thought we played well for 34 minutes but struggled down the stretch to close out the game. We had to relearn tonight how to close out games with a lead. Lots of teachable moments but good to feel a win again. I’m proud of our guys, and proud of our seniors. 100 wins now for that class. It says a lot about their investment and success of that group.”

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Pilots travel to Winona Lake on Saturday to resume one of the oldest rivalries in all of small college basketball against Grace. The men will tip off at approximately 3pm, following the conclusion of the women’s game which begins at 1pm.