Trojans’ Upend No. 11 Bethel with Terrific Shooting Display

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Taylor continued its torrid start to Crossroads League play, blitzing past No. 11 Bethel (8-1, 2-1 CL), with an incredible offensive display for a 91-80 victory on the road.

Taylor shot an eye-popping 66.1 percent from the field, its best mark since November of 2014, and 50 percent from beyond the arc to pull the second-consecutive upset in Crossroads League action.

Over a week after handing cross-county rivals Indiana Wesleyan its first loss of the season, Taylor did the same to Bethel in emphatic fashion, winning by 11 and holding a double-digit lead for 12 of the final 13 minutes of action.

Pete Combs led the Trojans to a dynamic display down low, totaling 46 paint points, 16 more than Bethel, and outrebounding the Pilots by six. Combs tallied 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds, both team highs, and used his size advantage to control the paint.

The beginning of the game was tough sledding for the Trojan offense despite the incredible end numbers. After a layup by Combs on the first possession, TU missed its next four shots and had four early turnovers, leading to an early 8-3 deficit after six-and-a-half minutes on the floor.

The Trojan bench ignited a run of nine-consecutive made field goals, turning a five-point deficit into a three-point lead at 23-20.

Taylor pushed the lead to 33-23 until Austin Cripe poured in 12 points in the final four minutes for the Pilots to cut the Trojans lead to 40-35 heading into the locker room.  

Nathan Baker led the Trojans with 11 first-half points, totaling 15 in the game off the bench for the freshman forward. Combs and Anthony McGhee joined Baker in double figures in the opening half, scoring ten apiece as TU shot 68 percent from the field but coughed the ball up ten times to allow Bethel to stay within five. McGhee scored 17 points in the contest and added four rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block to stuff the stat sheet.

Combs continued his fantastic night in the second half shooting 8-9 from the field for 16 points after the break. Nate Paarlberg splashed home four triples in the second, scoring all 14 of his points after halftime.

The Trojans turned it over just five times in the second half, and controlled the game throughout, leading by five or more the entirety of the half.

Carson Gould provided five assists in his first collegiate start, and Zahree Harrison matched that mark with five helpers of his own while pouring in ten points off the bench.

Taylor (6-3, 2-1 CL) hosts Moody Bible (2-5) for the 28th annual Silent Night game on Friday, December 5th, with tip set for 6:00 pm.