MARION – In the absence of Crossroads League Player of the Year Matt Schauss the Pilots were no match for the nation’s best team falling to Indiana Wesleyan University 87-72 in the conference tournament finale Tuesday night.

Bethel would need to collectively step up and recoup the 20.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game that Schauss brought to the table, but the Pilots managed 40 percent from the field (22-of-55) compared to 52 percent for the Wildcats.

Schauss suffered a season-ending knee injury on Saturday during Bethel’s win over St. Francis in the conference tourney semifinals.

BC kept it interesting in the opening half as they blasted out to a 7-2 lead thanks to five-points from Clay Yeo. IWU would claw right back knotting the score 7-7.

Bethel would claim their largest lead of the game at six points multiple times. At the 14:40 mark after a three-pointer by Yeo gave Bethel a 16-10 advantage. Later, a Ryan Wassink three would keep BC on top 24-18.

With 5:30 remaining and Bethel clinging to a 33-31 lead the Wildcats closed the opening half on a 15-4 run to take a 46-37 lead at intermission.

Zach Miller started the second half with a BC bucket, but Indiana Wesleyan soon flexed their muscles scoring the next six points to increase their lead to 54-41.

Bethel would go cold from the field over the next three minutes as IWU slowly increased their lead to as many as 20 (80-60) with 2:54 remaining, but the Pilots continued to fight to come as close as 14 (82-68) with just 1:04 left.

It was too little too late as IWU went on to win the conference tournament.

Bethel was led by sophomore Clay Yeo who scored a game-high 24 points to compliment six rebounds and two assists. Chris Mitchell added 13 points and five assists while Ryan Wassink, starting in place of Schauss, added 13 as well.

The Pilots (27-6) now await their next opponent in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament in Point Lookout, Missouri beginning March 11.