GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  – The Golden Eagles return to action after 70 days of no competition. CU will return to action against the same team they last played, as they will travel to Bethel University of Indiana who now sits ranked number 19 in the NAIA. The teams last met on November 14 inside Mol Arena, where Cornerstone earned an 85-79 victory. Both teams have had different journeys since the last meeting, as CU was forced to shut down athletic competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while Bethel continued to play and holds a 16-3 overall record. Saturday's road contest will have live video and stats with the links available at cugoldeneagles.com. 
 
Navigating COVID around the WHAC 
Due to the unique nature of the COVID-19 Pandemic across the country many programs throughout the NAIA have seen a different number of games played so far this men's basketball season. Cornerstone was able to get four games in, during October-November before all athletic activity was shut down by the MDHHS over the semester break. To begin the new year, CU was able to begin individual workouts where the team was able to get back in the gym in 1v1 sessions. In the latest MDHHS order, Cornerstone has been able to return to full-team activity as of January 16. With teams from Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio within the WHAC this has led to a multitude of different records across the conference. Indiana Tech has played 15 games to this date, while Aquinas has yet to play a contest. Of the 10 teams in the WHAC, nine teams have played 0-5 games this season with Indiana Tech being the outlier. 
 
Statistical Reminders
Through the first four games of the season, Cornerstone has seen a heavy dose of balance offensively with four players averaging double-figures, led by sophomore center Cory Ainsworth at 13.5 a game. CU has been one of the best teams sharing the ball, averaging 18.0 assists a game to rank 10th in the NAIA. On the defensive side of the ball, CU has seen great rim protection, averaging five blocks per game. Seven different players have recorded at least one block, with again sophomore center Cory Ainsworth leading the way with six. 
 
Scouting Bethel
Bethel is one of the few teams across the country that has not seen much of a slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, playing 19 games and going 16-3 in those contests. The Pilots have won their last three, and 13 of their last 14 with the only blemish in that stretch coming in a two point loss to Lincoln (Ill.). Despite playing in one of the best conferences in the NAIA as a member of the Crossroads League, Bethel ranks top-10 in multiple offensive categories. The team is second in the NAIA in total scoring at 1723 points averaging 90.7 a game. Bethel also ranks sixth in total threes made (191), and 10th in total assists (306). The senior back court duo of TreVion Crews and Zac Owens lead BU offensively as Crews averages 22.3 PPG and 5.2 APG, while Owens averages 18.4 PPG and 2.8 APG. Defensively is where Bethel is not quite as strong, as opponents average 81.3 points against them and are shooting 45.0% from the field.
 
Men's Basketball Contact: Jesse Campbell
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