SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – The Lawrence Technological University men's basketball team fell to .500 in conference play, falling to No. 9 Cornerstone University (Mich.), 83-53, in Grand Rapids on Wednesday, November 28. Jalen Bethel (FR/Columbus, Ohio) paced the Blue Devils with his second double-double of the season.

The Golden Eagles (9-3, 4-0) opened the first half shooting 51 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc. The Blue Devils (5-6, 2-2) had woes from deep, knocking down just 3-of-20.

Ty Searles (SR/Pontiac, Mich.) started the game off strong, scoring seven straight points for LTU. Searles finished with 11, extending his streak to 11-straight outings scoring in double figures. Bethel's double-double is his first since the season opener against Great Lakes Christian on October 24. He had a team-high 16 points and 11 rebounds. Devonte Myles (SR/Tampa, Fla.) chipped in nine points and grabbed six boards off the bench.

Cornerstone was led by four Golden Eagles in double digits, highlighted by a double-double performance by Sam Vander Sluis, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Leading the team in points was Riley Costen with 23.

Trailing 26-18 in the opening frame, Bethel took over for the Blue Devils, wheeling off the next eight Lawrence Tech points. Cornerstone had an answer and then some though, pushing the lead to 40-24.

Coming out of the locker room down 45-31, LTU ramped up its defense to hold Cornerstone to 36 percent shooting for the remaining 20 minutes, including a modest 15 percent from deep. Bethel picked up where he left off in the first, tallying the Blue Devils' first eight points of the half. The deficit would be too steep to erase though, as the Golden Eagles would push its advantage out to 34 at 79-45 with under five minutes to play.

Lawrence Tech looks onward to another ranked foe and WHAC opponent, No. 16 Indiana Institute of Technology. The Blue Devils will face the Warriors at home at the Don Ridler Field House on Saturday, December 1. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. Indiana Tech is 7-4 overall and 4-0 in the WHAC this season.