MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Despite a sizeable first-half lead, the Goshen men's basketball team couldn't hang on against Bethel in the latest edition of the U.S. Highway 20 Cup. It took overtime, but the Pilots prevailed 92-83.
 
The Maple Leafs started the game with solid shooting. They made 14 of their first 17 shots, shooting over 80%. They went on an 11-0 run in the middle of the half and already had 29 points just nine and a half minutes into the game. The lead reached 16 when Michael Johnson's jumper made the score 33-17. At halftime, the Leafs still led by 12, 44-32.
 
Bethel started the second half on a 7-0 run to bring the lead down to five, but it wasn't until there were six minutes to go when Bethel took the lead at 67-66, their first lead since it was 7-6. This was a part of an 8-0 rally. And though Goshen was able to tie it back up on multiple occasions, they wouldn't have a lead for the rest of the game.
 
The Leafs were down seven with 2:40 to go, but layups by Austin Branagan and Ryan Mansbarger and free throws from Greg Johnson cut the Pilots' lead to one. They hit a couple of free throws with 23 seconds to lead 79-76. However, Clayton MacLagan hit a clutch three with four seconds to go and then blocked a shot by Wesley Burse on the other end to send the game to overtime.
 
Bethel scored two layups early in the free period for the 427 fans in attendance. Jake Johnson had an impressive drive down the lane to make it 83-79. Greg Johnson hit a couple more critical free throws, but the Pilots ran away with it, and Goshen didn't hit a field goal until 25 seconds were remaining. Bethel (11-9, 4-4 CL) went on to win 92-83 in overtime.
 
"We need to be a little better in crunch time, but that only happens by being in that situation regularly," head coach Jon Tropf commented after the game.
 
Austin Branagan tied a season-high with 19 points. He made eight of his 11 attempts today – making more baskets than his previous four games combined. "It was good to see Austin step up when we needed him," Tropf said.
 
Ryan Mansbarger scored 18, with nine coming from behind the arc. Greg Johnson racked up ten points and five rebounds, Robert Sanders and Clayton MacLagan each had nine points, and Elias Ramirez added eight points and eight rebounds.
 
Tropf was very proud of how his team battled this afternoon and knows it is a game they can build on. "Our word for the day was 'tenacious,'" he remarked, "and I believe we played with tenacity for forty-five minutes."
 
Goshen (5-15, 1-7 CL) is back at home on Tuesday, January 18. They will take on Huntington at 7:00 pm in Gunden Gymnasium.