MISHAWAKA, Ind. — After an NAIA National Tournament run in 2024 that ended with a loss to the Central Baptist Mustangs in the Bell Family Arena in Olathe, Kan. the Pilots begin the 2024-25 season with the Governors State Jaguars on Oct. 26 in the Gates Gymnasium and ranked seventh in the Crossroads League Preseason Poll.
The Pilots ended the 2023-24 campaign with an overall record of 20-11 and took fifth in the Crossroads League Standings, in the conference tournament, Bethel lost to the (RV) Marian Knights 91-82 in Indianapolis before getting the at-large bid for the NAIA Tournament where BU defeated the LSU Alexandria Generals 85-67 in the First Round.
Against ranked opponents, Bethel went 1-4 with a marquee win over the No. 6 Georgetown Tigers at home 85-80 but gave the No. 1 Grace Lancers a battle on Jan. 24 where the Pilots led by 10 points at halftime before the Lancers came back to win 81-74.
Drew Lutz led the Pilots in points with 736 and points-per-game at 24.5 Lutz ended the season as the NAIA leader in both categories and named NAIA Third Team All-American, NCCAA First Team All-American and a First Team All-Crossroads League. Preston Phillips and Nathan Aerts were also honored with All-Crossroads League Honorable Mention honors.
NEWCOMERS
The Pilots bring in four newcomers, including Alex Johnson from Louisville, Ky. The 6’4 Freshman guard plans to study pre-law at Bethel University and comes from Trinity High School.
Colin Comer is a 6’4 “Sophomore Shooting Guard from Greensburg Community High School in Greenburg, Ind., who transferred from NCAA DII Fairmont State out of the Mountain East Conference. In the 2022-23 season, Comer appeared in two games for two minutes each and earned Academic All-MEC honors. At Greensburg HS, Comer averaged 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Comer will study Sports Management at BU.
Payton Baird is a local product from South Bend Riley High School who played Football for a year and Basketball for three and comes to campus as a 6’5 Freshman Guard. Baird averaged 14 points, and 7 rebounds and helped lead the Wildcats to a 22-5 record his senior year. He was named 1st Team All-NIC, 1st Team All-Area, and NIC MVP.
Beau Jacquay is a Sophomore Center who transferred from the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) and went to Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger. At Bishop Dwenger, Jacquay was a Basketball and Baseball player who played in a Sectional for Baseball, he was named All-Conference for Basketball and Baseball. Jacquay averaged 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds with the Cougars in 23 games played in his freshman season and scored two points against Bethel on Nov. 19 last season after seeing the floor for six minutes.
Bethel faces the Governors State Jaguars on Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Gates Gymnasium for the first game of the 2024-25 season.