Pilots Jump All Over Falcons, Win in Home Opener

by | Nov 1, 2017 | Headlines, RRSN News | 0 comments

Pilots Jump All Over Falcons, Win in Home Opener

Mishawaka, Ind. – The Bethel College Pilots men’s basketball won on the Gates Gymnasium floor for the first time this season, outpacing the Simmons (Ky.) Falcons. The Pilots have not lost a home opener since 1978-79.

GAME VITALS

  • Score:  Bethel def. Simmons 98-61
  • Records:  Bethel (2-0) | Simmons (0-2)
  • NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll: Bethel – No. 22 | Simmons – not rated
  • Location: Wiekamp Athletic Center | Bethel College | Mishawaka, Ind.

 

STAT TRACKER

  • Gage Ott: 20 pts, 8-9 fg, 3 reb, 1 blk
  • Trey’von Covington: 18 pts, 5 reb, 3 stl
  • Ryan Lutz: 11 pts, 7 reb, 4 ast
  • Grant Gayler: 14 pts, 7-7 ft, 4 reb
  • Paul Forman: 11 pts, 8 reb

 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

  • After giving up the first two points of the game, the Pilots raced out to a 21-9 advantage and led by as much as 20 in the first half. The Pilots used a 16-2 run to open the second half to put the game away with a 59-30 lead with 16:52 remaining. The Pilots largest lead stood at 48 points (91-43) with 6:41 left.
  • Gage Ott moved into 52nd place on the career scoring list with 1,097 points, passing Mark Lettinga (’05-09) who had 1,092 for his career.
  • The Pilots shot 57.1% from the field, their first time over 50.0% on the season, a mark they hit 22 times last season.
  • Four Pilots saw their first action of the season tonight: Ryan Lutz, Dominic Genco, Trey Burns, and Matt McCown.
  • The Pilots have never lost a home opener in the Wiekamp Athletic Center, running their streak to 20 straight since it opened in 1998. The last time the Pilots lost a home opener was Nov. Nov. 16, 1978 against Olivet Nazarene (102-79).

 

COACH LIGHTFOOT SAYS

  • “Tonight was another good test for us. We are continuing to learn who we are as a program. We are a team that needs to play to our standards, not to our competition. Regardless of who we play, we need to show up and execute both sides of the floor. I was disappointed in how we handled ourselves as a team, both offensively and defensively. It was a great learning experience for our young guards to face that amount of pressure for 94 feet. There is still lots of room for growth with this group.”

 

NEXT TIME OUT

  • The Pilots travel across town on Friday to take on the No. 13-ranked University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in an exhibition game at Purcell Pavilion. Game time is set for 7pm.

 

Related Stories

VU’s Wright Delivers Big Game in Setback at Indiana State

Wright Delivers Big Game in Setback at Indiana State Valparaiso University men’s basketball freshman All Wright (Durango, Mexico / Link Year) turned in the highest known scoring output ever achieved by a Valpo rookie by tallying 32 points, but the Beacons fell 80-62...

IUSB WBB races past Calumet

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (16-6, 9-6 CCAC) defeated the Calumet College of Saint Joseph Crimson Wave (2-21, 0-15 CCAC) by a final score of 111-31 to snap their two game skid and mark their biggest victory of the season. The first half...

IUSB men’s basketball falls to CCSJ in final moments

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (13-10, 10-5 CCAC) lost their CCAC match up to the Calumet College of Saint Joseph Crimson Wave (13-9, 8-7 CCAC) by a final score of 84-82, snapping their four game winning streak. Even at 10-10 five minutes...

Bethel Men’s Volleyball falls short of reverse sweep at Trine

ANGOLA, Ind.--- In the first road match of the season, the Bethel Pilots (3-2) fall short of a reverse sweep over the Trine Thunder (6-4) on the road (18-25, 29-31, 25-22, 25-19, 13-15) on Tuesday night. After the 7-7 tie in the first set, the Thunder went on an 8-2...

Indiana’s Garzon Named To 2025 Cheryl Miller Award Top 10

Garzon Named To 2025 Cheryl Miller Award Top 10   SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Indiana women’s basketball junior guard Yarden Garzon has been named to the 2025 Cheryl Miller Award Top 10, announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Coaches...

Big Ten Weekly Men’s Basketball Central – Feb. 4-6

Big Ten. Big News. Entering this week’s action, Michigan State was at the top of the B1G standings with a 9-1 mark in conference play. They were followed closely by Purdue in 2nd at 9-2, then Michigan in 3rd at 8-2, Maryland, Wisconsin, and UCLA in a tie for 4th at...

Big Ten Weekly Women’s Basketball Central – Feb. 4-6

Half of the Big Ten’s 16 games will be featured on national platforms this week, while the remaining games will be streamed live on B1G+ (visit bigtenplus.com for more information). Wednesday’s docket includes a doubleheader on Peacock with No. 7 USC visiting...