SPRING ARBOR, MI - Despite enjoying a well balance scoring attack and another outstanding performance from Junior Chris Bellamy, Spring Arbor just could not pull out the victory over the visiting Bethel Pilots losing the MCC opening game 76-74.

Bellamy scored a game high 18 points but the special piece to this game was the 17 rebounds he pulled down. Bellamy was 2 assists shy of a triple double as he also dished out 8 assists in the game.

The Cougars started out playing solid basketball and built a seven point lead in the first six minutes of play. Bethel would not only close the gap before the half, but gain a four point lead with 1:10 left before the break.

Spring Arbor's Caleb Byers would score the final four points of the half to head into the locker room 36-36.

Starting out the second half, Spring Arbor just couldn't get the engines restarted and would fall behind by eleven points (44-55) after only four and a half minutes of play.

Both teams would score in streaks over the next 10 minutes of play and with 4:46 left the Cougars would trail by only three points (64-67). Three different times Spring Arbor would be able to cut the lead to two points, but would never fully close the gap and in the end, the Cougars would fall 74-76.

Matt Howe put in a solid performance adding 17 points with 8 rebounds in the MCC opener while both Rob Hogans and Caleb Byers each poured in 15 points.

Spring Arbor will continue MCC play on Tuesday night in Fort Wayne, IN with a 7:00 pm tip off with the University of St. Francis.