MISHAWAKA, Ind. --- It was a battle in the post on Saturday afternoon with the NAIA fifth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (19-3, 10-2) in town to face the 18th-ranked Bethel Pilots (16-6, 7-5) where the Pilots fell 102-88.

 The Wildcats took advantage of size with 64 points in the paint, including Nathan Childress, who dropped 24 points, with Javan Buchanan making 19 and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double, and Griffen Kliewer sunk 21 points.

Drew Lutz hit just under his average at 22 points and six assists, and James Anderson was close to a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. 

The Pilots tied the game 46-46 at 18:09 in the second half with James Anderson powering up and tapping the glass for two off Lutz's assist, but couldn't quite get over the hump and take the lead. Anderson and Lutz traded possessions and hit shot after shot inside the arc, but the Wildcat offense found ways to crash the laned and get shots up.

The Pilots dropped to fourth place in the Crossroads League standings, one game ahead of Marian (Ind.) in fifth and one game behind Huntington (Ind.), who took third place. If the Pilots stay in the top four, they will host the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinal but have six more games to climb.

NEXT TIME OUT

The Pilots host the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Cougars on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the Gates Gymnasium and can watch on the Bethel Sports Network with the pregame show with Paul Condry and Mark Gardner at 7:15 p.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.