Box Score
MISHAWAKA, Ind. – The Goshen College men's basketball team headed to Mishawaka with an upset on their minds, but fell short in a 73-86 loss to the host Bethel College Pilots Saturday afternoon.
After a pair of free-throws by Tyler Brown to start the game, senior Brice Hartman hit a 3-pointer to give Goshen a 3-2 lead. The Pilots quickly answered with a 6-0 run which forced the Maple Leafs trying to crawl back into the contest.
Jumpers from Carl Steen and Errick McCollum tied the game at 15-15 eight minutes into the first half, but William Walker answered immediately with a jumper of his own to give Bethel the lead again. Just minutes later, McCollum hit a long 3-pointer to tie the game again. This time it took Walker and the Pilots just fifteen seconds to respond with a three of their own to regain the lead.
Such was the story for the Maple Leafs all afternoon long. Goshen made numerous runs, but each time was rebuffed by a deep and talented Pilots squad. Bethel led by as many as eight in the opening half before the Maple Leafs came within four at 37-41 going into halftime.
"What is frustrating right now is we are so close to competing at a very high level in the MCC, but we have defensive lapses that have cost us several conference games," commented Head Coach Gary Chupp. "Tonight is another example - we scratched and clawed to get back in the game at half, only to give up several easy baskets to start the second half. Even though we closed the gap again in the second half, we didn't have enough to get over the hump."
The second half started with a 9-0 run by the Pilots. Bethel held onto that lead until halfway through the second half when a pair of Scott Bruggeman free throws brought Goshen within two. A pair of jumpers from Wes Laidig four minutes later put the Maple Leafs away for good.
"I thought that Taylor TenHarmsel gave us outstanding defensive play off the bench, doing a nice job containing (William) Walker," added Chupp. "However, we gave up too many baskets in transition - every time we made a run to close the gap, we would allow them to get an easy basket in transition."
McCollum got to the free-throw line eleven times as he scored a team-high 23 points. Senior Brice Hartman rallied for 21 points in 33 minutes, while Nate West scored 10, dspite early foul trouble.
Tyler Brown led Bethel with 23 points, while William Walker picked up a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Goshen is back in action when they host second-place Grace College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
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Senior Brice Hartman