(Mishawaka) — The 146th basketball meeting between Bethel and Grace had all the usual hallmarks: intense rivalry, filled with faith and tightly-contested.

Wednesday night at the Wiekamp Center, 11th-ranked Bethel surprised #2 Grace, as the Pilots downed the Lancers, 85-73, before a crowd of over 1200 fans.

West Noble alum Austin Cripe led five Bethel players in double figures with 18 points, while Al Pecuilis recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

NorthWood’s Tyler Raasch paced the Grace attack with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Defense ruled the day for the Pilots, who forced 15 turnovers and held Grace to 42 percent shooting and just 33 percent in the decisive second half.

Trailing at halftime, Grace closed to within two on Gavin Betten’s layup with 9:41 remaining. Colin Comer sparked Bethel on a 7-0 run.

The Lancers closed the deficit to 69-65 with exactly six minutes left, but Bethel embarked on a 13-0 run to put the game away, highlighted by Luke McBride’s third three-pointer of the night.

With the win, Bethel raises its record to 22-5 overall, 12-5 in the Crossroads League. Grace, which has already clinched its fourth straight regular-season league title, falls to 24-3, 14-3 in conference play.