CHICAGO --- Four University of St. Francis players scored in double figures, but the Saints were still no match for NAIA No.9 ranked Bethel University (Ind.) as the Pilots kept their season-long unbeaten streak intact with a 114-81 victory this Tuesday (Dec. 31) afternoon at the Roosevelt University New Year's Classic.
 

With the exception of brief 2-0 and 12-11 advantages early in the contest by the Saints, Bethel (15-0) led throughout and never allowed USF (5-9) to get back under single digits after the 10:14 mark of the opening half. The Pilots shot .667 from three-point range (12-of-18) alone and .611 overall (22-of-36)  in the opening 20 minutes to build a commanding 59-36 lead at the break.
 

Bethel never let up in the second half, hitting another 10 three-pointers in 16 attempts to finish at .647 for the game (22-of-34). In fact, the Pilots hit as many three-pointers as they did two-point attempts, going 22-of-41 (.536) inside the arc for an overall .587 reading (44-of-75) on the afternoon.
 

USF countered with 16 treys of its own to also shoot better from long range (16-of-34, .471) than up close (11-of-30, .367) for an overall .422 percentage (27-of-64) on the day.
 

Bethel also gained a huge advantage on the boards, more than doubling up on the Saints, 48-22, which fueled a 24-0 advantage in second-chance points.
 

Grant Gelon was unstoppable for the Pilots, converting eight of his nine three-point attempts en route to a game-high 25 points. TreVion Crews contributed another 22 points with four treys of his own for Bethel, which had 12 individuals score and 11 secure rebounds.
 

Malik Bailey (SR/Tutwiler, Miss.) paced the Saints with four three-pointers, 16 points and four assists. Mitch Kwasigroch (SR/Manhattan, Ill.) provided three treys and 14 points, while Cole Micek (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) added 10 points and four assists and Jorden Thornton (SR/Hoffman Estates, Ill.) connected for 12 points.
 

Up Next

The Saints return to Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday (Jan. 4) at 3 p.m. (CT) when they face Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Ind.