Cougars Come Up Short Against No. 11 Bethel
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#11 Bethel (Ind.) (9-1, 3-1) | 45 | 37 | 82 |
|
Saint Francis (Ind.) (3-8, 0-4) | 37 | 29 | 66 |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The University of Saint Francis (Ind.) men's basketball team battled No. 11 Bethel University in a home Crossroads League matchup on Saturday, December 6. The Cougars fell short against the Pilots by a final score of 82-66.
The two teams traded baskets early, with Saint Francis holding a 13–12 lead at the 14:24 mark. Bethel responded with a run that pushed the Pilots ahead by ten with under three minutes remaining in the half. The Cougars fought back to make it a one-possession game at 40–37 with 51 seconds left, but Bethel closed the period strong to take a 45–37 advantage into halftime.
Saint Francis continued to chip away after the break, pulling within three at the 11:43 mark. Bethel maintained control down the stretch, rebuilding its lead and pulling away for an 82–66 victory to move to 9–1 overall and 3–1 in Crossroads League play.
The Cougars shot 43.6% (24–55) from the field, collected 35 rebounds, and converted 11 points off turnovers. RJ Moore led SF with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting while adding two blocks. Karson Rogers posted his seventh double-double of the season with 17 points, 15 rebounds, three steals, and a block. Jevon Lewis added 13 points and two steals, while Joe Reidy finished with eight points and five boards and Eugene Young Jr. added seven points and seven rebounds.
The Cougars (3-8, 0-4 CL) will travel to Great Lakes Christian College for a non-league game against the Crusaders on Saturday, December 13.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences, and Business. In addition to its traditional programs, Saint Francis designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point, Lafayette and online. Saint Francis Downtown houses the music technology program while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis, recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution, has 21 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships. More than 1,900 students from a broad geographic region attend Saint Francis.
