MISHAWAKA – Sophomore guard Clay Yeo scored 31 points helping the Bethel College men’s basketball team to a 96-75 victory over local foe Holy Cross College Tuesday night at the Wiekamp Athletic Center.

Senior Zach Miller also poured in 24 points shooting 5-of-10 from beyond the arc and 7-of-12 from the field. Miller has now hit 333 triples for his career making him just 14 three-pointers away from breaking the all-time record at Bethel College.  The current record is 346 held by Josh Weimer (2001-2004).

The rivalry game began with a quick trey from Yeo, but it was Holy Cross’ Karl Columbus who would later get a basket to put the Saints ahead early 3-5. They would hold a two-point advantage up until the 17:08 mark when a bucket by Ryan Wassink sparked a 10-0 Bethel run to put the Pilots up 16-8.

Over the next eight minutes Bethel (6-0) increased the defensive pressure holding Holy Cross (2-3) to only four points while adding 13 of their own on the offensive end to take a 17-point lead (29-12) with nine minutes to play in the half.

The Saints, however, would answer and go on an 11-2 spurt to climb to within eight (31-23) at the 7:25 mark before two free throws by Miller started a 7-0 Pilot run to push their lead to 38-23.

After a three-pointer from the Saints’ Drew Moore, Bethel would rattle off eight of the next 10 points capped off with a Miller trey for an 18-point lead (46-28).

In the closing seconds of the half Holy Cross would get a steal and bucket at the horn as Bethel would head into the locker room up 52-37. For the opening half BC would shoot 61 percent from the field (19-of-31) while hitting 90 percent from the free throw line (9-of-10). Holy Cross would connect on 41 percent shooting (16-of-39) and only 1-of-4 from the charity stripe (25 percent).

Saints Head Coach Mike McBride rallied his team at the half as Holy Cross opened up the final act on a 12-3 run to climb to within just six (55-49) in the first four minutes of action.

Zach Miller would get Bethel rolling as he was fouled while shooting a three-pointer and connected on all three of his attempts to give the Pilots a nine-point. Clay Yeo would give BC a an 11 point lead on a running layup with 14:34 remaining to put his squad on top 62-51. Bethel would hold then hold their double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.

From there Miller, Yeo and Matt Schauss would put a stop to any Saints run before building their largest lead of the contest (21 points) with just over one-minute remaining. BC would then run out the clock for the 96-75 final.

Schauss would end his night just three assists shy of a triple-double contributing 10 points, hauling down a game-high 10 rebounds and passing out seven assists. Ryan Wassink would add 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting while ripping down six boards. Jordyn Coon and Caleb Oetjen would give Bethel solid minutes off the bench each adding eight points and four rebounds, respectively.

The Pilots will hit the road as they participate in the Viterbo Invitational in LaCrosse, Wisconsin on November 14 and 15. Bethel will face (RV) Waldorf University on Friday at 6:00pm.