UPLAND – Poor defense combined with poor shooting from the free throw line made for a bad recipe for the Bethel College men’s basketball team as they fell at Taylor University 84-79 on Tuesday night in Crossroads League play.

The Pilots struggled defensively in the second half giving up 48 points, the most points the Pilots have allowed in a half this season. The Pilots would also struggle from the free throw line going 10-of-22 and shooting a sluggish 45 percent.

The Pilots would take an early lead and would go into halftime with a four point advantage. Sophomore Gage Ott would lead the Pilots at the break with 14 points and nine rebounds, while junior guard Caleb Oetjen would add 11 points and four assists.

Taylor would go into halftime with eight players on the scoreboard with guard Kyle Stidom leading the way with eight points.

Bethel, despite shooting 60 percent from the field in the second half, allowed the Trojans to take control of the game late as they outrebounded the Pilots 20-12.

The Trojans would go 15-of-27 from the field and a solid 6-of-11 from behind the three point line. For the Trojans, Stidom would score 20 of his 28 points in the second half on five field goals and nine free throws. Trojan forward Keaton Hendricks would add 15 points, and Lane Vander Hulst would add 11.

The Pilots would end the night with four players in double figures. Ott would lead the way for the Pilots scoring 24 points and adding 11 rebounds recording his second double-double of the year. Oetjen would fill the stat sheet as well scoring 15 points, dishing out nine assists, and pulling down eight rebounds. Senior guard Travis Smith would add 14 points on the night, and junior guard Clay Yeo would add 10.

Bethel (9-1, 1-1) will return home on Saturday to take on Crossroads League rival Grace College at 3 p.m.  The Bethel women will face Grace at 1 p.m. Saturday to begin the conference doubleheader.