Men's Basketball

Tyler Brown

Jersey Number: 21
Class: Senior
Major: Sports Management
Home Town: South Bend,IN
High School: Penn
Position: F
Height/Weight: 6-5 / 195

“Tyler has had a great career. I believe he has saved his best for last. We will need for him to defend the ball a lot better this year and give us great minutes every night out. I feel he can be one of the best players in our conference when he plays with confidence and focus.” -Coach Lightfoot
 
As a Junior (08/09)
 
Despite personal lows in starts, minutes played, field goal percentage, rebounds, and blocks, Tyler still managed to play in 36 games, starting in 29. It was the first season that Tyler did not start or play in every game of the season.
 
Tyler did however post a personal best in free throw percentage, improving to 73.3% for the season, including a season-high 9-of-10 from the line in the MCC Tournament Championship against Indiana Wesleyan on 3/3.
 
Tyler scored in double figures in 29 games, posting a season-high 25 points in two separate games. He also collected 5 or more rebounds in 18 games, posting a season-high 9 rebounds against St. Francis on 2/21. For the first time in his first three seasons, Tyler did not record a double figure rebound game.
Tyler matched his career-highs in assists (7 vs. Indiana Wesleyan, 12/2), blocks (4 vs. IUSB, 12/17), and field goal attempts (19 vs. IUSB, 11/12). He also joined the 500 Rebound Club, becoming the 31st member in program history.
 
Despite a career-low in blocks and field goal percentage, Tyler still managed to finish 5th in the conference in each category.
 
Tyler finished the season 102 points and 14 rebounds behind his father Steve on the career lists.
 
NCCAA North Central Region 2nd-Team, MCC 3rd-Team All-Conference
 
As a Sophomore (07/08)
 
After flying out of the gates in his freshman season, Tyler seemed to shift into another gear in his sophomore campaign. Tyler, who has been foul prone throughout his career, committed 22 less fouls than his previous year and only fouled out of two games, seven less than his freshman year.
 
Tyler raised his scoring average 2.0 points per game and also dished out 33 more assists than his freshman season. His 15.4 points per game was 2nd on the team and 9th in the conference. Tyler scored in double figures 27 times, including a season-high 28 points against Warner Pacific on 3/12, totaling 10-of-19 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. He topped the 5-rebound mark in 26 games, with his season-high 11 rebounds coming in a win over Grace on 2/20.
 
Tyler joined Bethel’s 1,000 Point Club against Warner Pacific in the NAIA National Tournament. He finished the season 89 rebounds shy of joining the 500 Rebound Club.
 
He finished 2nd in the conference and 12th in the nation in field goal percentage (.568) and 5th in the conference in blocked shots (1.22).
 
MCC 2nd-Team All-Conference
 
As a Freshman (06/07)
 
Coming from Penn High School, it seemed Tyler was destined to bring success with him to Bethel College. After considering the Big Ten’s Northwestern University, Tyler decided to bring his game down McKinely Avenue and immediately found himself in the starting lineup.
 
Tyler started all 36 games and averaged 13.4 points per game. He scored in double digits in 27 games, including a career-high 31 points on 14-of-19 shooting against Grace on 1/13. He also topped the 5-rebound mark in 24 games.
 
Tyler’s biggest game of the season came against Northwestern (MN) in the NCCAA North-Central Regional Championship, where he had 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds (7 offensive).
 
In the closing seconds of double overtime, Tyler got open under the basket and got a pass from Wes Laidig to score the game-winning layup. Tyler played 45 of the 50 possible minutes in the win.
 
Tyler earned NCCAA All-Tournament team honors after averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the tournament, including 23 points and 9 rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting against Grace in the championship game, playing all 45 minutes of action.
 
Tyler’s 45 blocked shots placed him 9th all-time in Bethel single season history. He finished 2nd in the conference in field goal percentage (.592), 5th in the conference in blocked shots (1.38), and 14th in the conference in points per game (13.4).
 
MCC All-Newcomer Team, MCC Honorable Mention All-Conference, NCCAA All-Tournament Team