MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- It was an electric crowd for the Bethel Men's Basketball team's upset of NAIA sixth-ranked Georgetown Tigers in the Gates Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
The Pilots started behind on a 15-7 run at 15:04 in the first half but climbed back to a three-point deficit with a three-point play by Drew Lutz and a layup by Ike Umeh at 12:37; Lutz tied the game 17-17 with a deep ball at 11:49, then drained another in back-to-back possessions to give the Pilots the lead 20-17.
Bethel climbed to a seven-point advantage at 5:45 until halftime, with Preston Phillips tipping in Lutz's jumper 31-24, but the Tigers answered back with a layup and got to the free-throw line to claw back to a two-point deficit 33-31. The Tigers nailed a three at 1:55 to the half and fought back to lead 38-35 at halftime.
It was a dogfight in the early minutes of the second half, with Preston Phillips tying the game 42-42 at 18:36 by splitting a pair of free throws. The Tigers took advantage of three empty possessions by the Pilots to gain an eight-point lead, 55-47, with a deep ball and two layups.
Clay Hilliard, who made his Pilot debut, ended the streak with a three-pointer at 13:44, and Luke McBride tipped in Hilliard's three attempt in the next possession and sank a free throw to make it 55-53.
In the final minutes, Trent Edwards tied the game at 75-75, and the Pilots kept a healthy one-possession lead into crunch time. Georgetown sank a layup at 1:03 to go, but Drew Lutz hit a deep ball with 29 seconds left and buried the dagger with two good free throws to win 85-80.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Drew Lutz drained 29 points, making tonight his eighth 20+ point game this season.
- Clay Hilliard scored nine points, with three made from downtown in his Pilot debut.
- James Anderson was one rebound away from a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds.
- The Pilots are now 1-1 against NAIA top-10 opponents this season.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots go on a two-game road trip starting with Governors State on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m., then go to Lebanon, Tenn. to take on (RV) Cumberland University (Tenn.) on Monday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m.
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 YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.
