MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Bethel Men's Basketball trailed by as many as 33 points to Mount Vernon Nazarene in the second half, but unlike January 11's near comeback for the Pilots against the Cougars, Mount Vernon Nazarene took the 92-75 victory as the final margin was the closest the Pilots were able to make it in the end. Nathan Aerts became the 63rd player in program history to reach 1,000 career points, leading the team with 18 in the game.

GAME VITALS

• Score: Mount Vernon Nazarene def. Bethel 92-75
• Records: Bethel (12-15, 5-10) | Mount Vernon Nazarene (18-8, 9-6)
• NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll: Bethel – NR | Mount Vernon Nazarene – NR
• Location: Ariel Arena | Mount Vernon Nazarene University | Mount Vernon, Ohio

STAT TRACKER

• Nathan Aerts: 18 pts, 4 reb, 6-10 fg
• Zac Owens: 15 pts, 2 stl, 5-10 fg
• Jake Johnson: 6 pts, 6 reb

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• The Pilots faced their largest deficit of the season at 33 points with 10:22 remaining at 73-40. They have trailed by double digits in nine of their last 10 games.
• Nathan Aerts joins Jared DeHart in scoring his 1,000th career point this season. He sits at 1,017 for his career.
• The Pilots shot just 34.2-percent from the field and 22.6-percent from long range.
• The 15th loss for the Pilots is their most since 2010-11.
• The Pilots have allowed 88.8 points per game over their last ten games. Their opponents have shot 52.5-percent from the field and 42.5-percent from long range and have handed the Pilots eight losses in that stretch.

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Pilots return to the Wiekamp Athletic Center on Saturday at 3:00 pm to take on Indiana Wesleyan.

For the latest information on each of Bethel University's 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, visit BUPilots.com or follow the Pilots on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BUPilots or on YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.