SPRING ARBOR, MI – Shooting woes continued to plague Spring Arbor University's men's basketball team as the Cougars fell to the Pilots of Bethel College on Saturday afternoon by the score of 70-58.

The game looked promising for the Cougars for the first 10 minutes as Spring Arbor benefited from tenacious defense and took an early 15-3 lead.  SAU would hold the lead until Bethel scored with 1:11 left in the first half to put the Pilots in front 26-25.  A pair of Bethel free throws would finish the first half scoring at 28-25, advantage Bethel College, at intermission.

The Cougars would open the second half with inspired play and retake the lead with a 35-34 advantage with a bucket by Matt Van Pelt with 16:34 left in the game, but Bethel took command at that points with a 14-0 run over the next 4:17 to put the pressure on Spring Arbor.

Bethel looked like that might run away with the game with 6:11 remaining in the contest and a commanding 59-46 lead, but Chris Bellamy would score eight points in 1:03 to cut the lead to just six points (60-54) with only  5:09 left.

Unfortunately for Spring Arbor, the Pilots would regain their momentum and finish the game with a 10-4 run to close out the Cougars.

Bellamy would lead Spring Arbor with 24 points and seven rebounds and Rob Hogans added 12 points to the tally sheet.  Matt Howe added eight points and seven rebounds and Matt Carden grabbed six rebounds.

Matt Van Pelt dished out a game high seven assists against only one turnover for another sold performance on the offensive.

The Cougars fall to 13-9 and 3-7 for the season as Bethel remains near the top of the Crossroads League at 18-4 and 9-1.

Spring Arbor will travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana on Tuesday night to face the University of Saint Francis for a 7:00 pm tip off.