Men’s basketball collects essential bounce back win at Marian

The men’s Pilot basketball team collected their second road win in the MCC on Saturday Jan. 7, as they downed the Marian Knights by a final score of 70-55. Overall, the win proved to be a great confidence booster for the young Bethel team, knocking off the Knights who had won their last six out of seven previous games. Despite the ending score, it was a neck and neck battle most of the way. Marian opened up the game with plenty of intensity as they reached an early 17-8 lead. However, The Pilots would respond with a number of runs of their own and would eventually claim a 36-34 halftime lead. The beginning of the second half would be no different as neither team was able to pull away. The Pilots led 55-52 with less than seven minutes to go and would go on a 15-3 run to close out the game strong. The Pilots have continued to look strong in clutch time this season, as all of their losses have been decided by seven or more points. Ryan Benner, Patrick Oetting, and Cody Cochran all put up 12 points to lead the Pilot offense. Oetting nearly had a double-double once again as he collected nine rebounds on the afternoon, while Benner gathered seven. The Pilots will return home Tuesday Jan. 10 to take on the Grace Lancers. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.