MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Gates Gymnasium was packed and loud, with both sides well represented in Wednesday night’s NAIA top-25 matchup. The Pilots (15-4, 6-3) fell after Grace’s late-game run 81-74.
Preston Phillips had his second double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. He was a crucial player in the Pilots’ dominant first half, which led to a peak lead of 17 points that Nathan Aerts tipped in on a third chance for the possession at 5:14 in the first half.
The Lancers chipped the lead down to five points with 55 seconds left until the half by Carter Stoltzfus’ triple, who was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first half.
Bethel held a double-digit lead at 16:56 with Trent Edwards dropping in a layup off Phillips’ dish, but the Lancers’ defense sharpened. A 12-0 Lancer run followed by two three-point plays from Jakob Gibbs at 14:48 and 13:47 aided in eventually tying the game 61-61 by Cade Gibbs’s deep ball, assisted by his brother Jakob Gibbs, who found their connection in the second half.
Clay Hilliard hit a shot from downtown at 2:27 to get the Pilots within two points, but Stoltzfus’ two from the charity stripe was the dagger that eventually sealed the 81-74 Lancer victory to preserve their perfect season (19-0, 9-0)
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots will host the Goshen Maple Leafs in the US Highway 20 Cup on Saturday, Jan. 27, at 3 p.m. in the Gates Gymnasium. The game will be featured on WHME 46 and the Bethel Sports Network in conjunction with the Regional Radio Sports Network.