SPRING ARBOR, MI - The Pilots of Bethel College came into Spring Arbor the #11 team in the NAIA Div II and spouting a 15-5 record over all and 7-2 in the rugged MCC Conference. They're on a mission to catch the #1 team in the country, the 20-1 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats. And that is pretty much how they played against the Spring Arbor University Cougars, denying the Cougars and winning the game 60-48.

The Cougars played tough, gritty, hard-nosed basketball and with 5:00 left to go in the ballgame, the outcome was still in doubt. Bethel led the Cougars by just 12 points with 5:11 on the clock.

Bethel plays a swarming, highly active defense that creates a lot of turnovers for their opponents and in MCC play the Pilots force an average of almost 25 turnovers per game. The Cougars have had trouble against the press so far this year, but managed just 19 turnovers which is actually a pretty decent improvement.

"We're getting there," said Coach Ryan Frost. "We have a long way to go, but I see improvement every time we play. I am proud of how tough we played them. Bethel has a good program and we played them pretty tough."

Jessica Garrison led the Cougars with 12 points and grabbing five rebounds. This is the seventh time that Garrison has led Spring Arbor in scoring.

Michaela Robichaud led Spring Arbor with seven rebounds.

The Cougars fall to 7-14 and 3-7 in the Conference and are still holding on the eighth place in the MCC. Spring Arbor holds a one game lead over Mount Vernon Nazarene who will play a late Saturday night tilt against Grace College in Mount Vernon, OH.

Spring Arbor will travel to Fort Wayne, IN on Wednesday night for a 7:00 pm matchup with Saint Francis University (13-9, 5-5).