Men's Basketball
Lightfoot Gets 600th Win As Pilots Continue To Dominate
Game Summary
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – No. 2 Bethel used a late first-half run to open up a 20-point halftime lead en route to an 88-68 win over Indiana University-Southeast in the opening game of the Sweet Sixteen. With the victory, head coach Mike Lightfoot earns his 600th career win, all with the Pilots. The 18th-annual event is being held at the Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of the College of the Ozarks (Mo.).
Indiana-Southeast kept the game close early on and led by one (8-7) in the opening minutes. Bethel outscored the Grenadiers12-2 to take a 19-10 advantage and never trailed from that point. Indiana-Southeast scored the next seven points to cut it to19-17 but the Pilots closed the final nine minutes of the first half on a 23-5 run to take a commanding 42-22 lead . All-American William Walker and guard Ryne Lightfoot keyed the first half run with 14 and eight points, respectively. Indiana-Southeast shot just 35% in the first half, including 1-of-8 from the three-point line.
Bethel maintained its double-digit lead through the duration of the second half as they shot a blistering 73% in the second 20 minutes. The Pilots worked the ball inside to Walker and the senior made 7-of-8 field goals in the second half. Indiana-Southeast made one late charge but could not get closer than 11 (72-61).
Walker recorded a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds to lead Bethel. He made 13-of-17 field goal attempts and went 4-of-5 from the foul line. Lightfoot and Tyler Brown netted 15 and 12 points, respectively. The Pilots controlled the glass, 37-23.
Coach Lightfoot earned his 600th career win and is the only coach with 10 seasons with 30 or more wins. He has guided Bethel to three national championships ('95, `97' 98) and eight appearances at the national tournament.
Indiana-Southeast was led by Jazzmarr Ferguson with 21 points and five steals. Alex Gravelle scored 17 points off the bench for the Grenadiers, making 3-of-4 three-pointers. Indiana-Southeast closes the season with a 24-8 record.
Bethel moves on with a 32-3 record and will play Bellevue on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the Elite Eight. The 32-team, single elimination tournament concludes March 17, 2009.
