UPLAND – The No. 16 ranked Bethel College Pilots traveled to face Taylor University Tuesday night and despite a gutsy effort fell short in overtime 105-97  in the Crossroads League opener.

From the start of the first half both teams battled back and forth refusing to give any leeway to the other. The Pilots were the first to score, but the Trojans came right back and took the lead until the six-minute mark. In the next four minutes the Pilots fought to regain the lead going on a 21-9 run and taking a seven-point lead. Taylor continued to claw their way into the game and at the half found themselves down by just one (49-48)

Both teams shot the ball at an extremely high percentage during the first half. The Pilots shot 60 percent from the field connecting on 21-of-35 shots, and going 4-of-10 from behind the three-point mark. The Trojans shot 54 percent from the field going 19-of-35 and 5-of-10 from behind the arc. Senior guard Jordyn Coon, a WCHS graduate, led the Pilots at half with 10 points, four assist and three rebounds.

Bethel opened up the second half slowly extending their lead against the Trojans and with 12:18 left to play held on to the biggest lead of the night, nine (68-59). With 1:17 left to play in the game the Pilots found themselves up by four but a quick bucket from Taylor guard Mason Dekenkolb cut the lead to just two. With just 22 second left to go Taylor guard Evan Crowe found an opening for a lay-up to even the score at 86. The Pilots controlled the ball for the last shot but a three-point attempt by guard Nick Kindig fell short sending the game into overtime.

The Pilots fought with everything they had, but in the end foul trouble and Taylor guard Evan Crowe proved to be too much for the Pilots to handle. Trojans guard Evan Crowe scored 14 of the Taylor’s 19 point during the overtime.

The Pilots finished the night shooting 49 percent from the field and 36 percent from behind the three-point stripe.

Kindig, a former standout at Tippecanoe Valley High School, led the Pilots with 19 points on the night.

Sophomore guard Trey’von Covington added 16 for the Pilots, while Coon added 15 point, six rebounds and five assist.

The Trojans were led by guard Evan Crowe with 27 points. Forward Jake Heggeland added 24 point and four rebounds. The Trojans capitalized from the foul line shooting 32 free-throws in the game and connecting on 26 of them.

The Pilots now move to 7-2 overall and 0-1 in the Crossroads League. The Pilots come back from the Thanksgiving Holiday to take on Huntington University on Nov. 29 at  home.