The Bethel College men's basketball team released its 2014-15 schedule. It's a 30 game slate, including 18 Crossroads league match-ups. The Pilots will tip-off the campaign on Oct. 31 against Northwestern Ohio University in the Maple City Hoopfest hosted by Goshen College. The Racers, members of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, finished 22-8 last season including 17-5 in league play. Bethel will quickly turn around and face Brescia University in day two of the tournament on Nov.1. The Bearcats finished 16-12 a year ago finishing fourth in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Bethel continues their non-conference slate on Nov. 5 as they head north to Berrien Springs, Michigan to take on Andrews University. BC escaped defeat at Andrews during the 2012-13 season winning 76-68. The Pilots will then kick-off their season in the friendly confines of the Wiekamp Athletic Center with three-straight contests. Bethel will host Lawrence Tech (Nov. 7) and Calumet College of St. Joseph (Nov. 8) as part of the Gates Automotive Classic. They will then entertain local foe Holy Cross College on Nov. 11. The Saints finished last season with the best record in school history at 20-11. The team will then compete in the Viterbo University Invitational in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. BC will face Waldorf College in game one on Nov.14 followed by the hosts on Nov.15. Waldorf went 16-10 last year with a third-place finish at 10-4 in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Warriors defeated six ranked opponents that year including No. 9 Bellevue and twice against No. 16 College of the Ozarks. Viterbo finished the 2013-14 campaign at 16-14 including a 79-67 win over Goshen College. The Crosstown Showdown with local rival Indiana University-South Bend will continue on Nov. 18 on the campus of IUSB. The all-time series that dates back to 1970 favors Bethel 57-6. Bethel begins Crossroads League play on Nov. 25 as they host defending national champion Indiana Wesleyan University. The Pilots defeated the Wildcats twice last year including a 102-95 overtime thriller in the Crossroads League tournament semifinal. BC will round out their first semester league contests at Goshen College on Dec. 2 and at Spring Arbor University on Dec. 6. On Dec. 13 Bethel will host NCAA D-II Saint Joseph's College. Last year the Pumas handed the Pilots their second loss of the season 90-84. This will be the second all-time meeting between the two squads. Bethel then heads to Miami Gardens, Florida where they will compete in the Saint Thomas Classic on the campus of Saint Thomas University. The Pilots will clash with Florida Memorial University on Dec. 29 and Saint Thomas on December 30. The host Bobcats finished the 2013-14 season ranked No. 15 in the nation while winning the Sun Conference title and advancing to the NAIA D-II Round of 16 three straight years. BC resumes Crossroads League play when they host rival Grace College on Jan. 3. The Pilots defeated the Lancers three-consecutive times last season including a 70-65 nail-biter in the Crossroads League tournament championship game. The all-time record between Bethel and Grace dates back to 1960 with the Pilots holding a slim 63-60 advantage. Both teams meet again in the regular-season finale on February 21 in Winona Lake, Ind. On Jan. 17 the Pilots will host Mount Vernon Nazarene University who is under new head coach Jared Ronai. BC went 2-0 last season versus MVNU, squeeking out a 66-60 home victory in their last meeting. Senior night will take place on Feb.17 when Bethel hosts Taylor University. The Pilots split with the Trojans last season with Bethel winning 84-70 in Mishawaka while TU upset BC in Upland, Ind. 79-72. The remainder of the schedule sees Bethel playing Crossroads League members before trying to defend the Crossroads League tournament championship for the second-straight season beginning February 25. The 24th annual NAIA men's basketball national championship will be held March 11-17 in Point Lookout, Missouri on the campus of College of the Ozarks. The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) men's basketball national championship will be held March 18-25 in Winona Lake, Ind. on the campus of Grace College. Full Online Schedule: http://www.bethelcollegepilots.com/schedule/0/1.php Click for full men's basketball roster: http://www.bethelcollegepilots.com/roster/0/1.php
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