Daily Dive: October 28 | Ave Maria Edges Wayland, Bontrager Plays as IUSB Spoils Bethel’s Opener
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
A Top 25 matchup decided by one point. A local showdown decided by two. And Caedmon Bontrager was on the floor for Bethel! Tuesday gave us plenty to unpack, from the ranked showdown to more tight finishes around the country. Let’s dive in!
No. 13 Ave Maria survives No. 24 Wayland Baptist, 82–81
A ranked win and a one-point finish to open Ave Maria’s season. The Gyrenes led 50–36 at halftime and pushed the margin to 19 before Wayland stormed back.
Freddie Cooper’s three with 41 seconds remaining cut it to 82–80. His free throw with five seconds left made it a one-point game. Talmadge Taylor’s final layup attempt did not fall, and Ave Maria held on.
Noah Lovan led the Gyrenes with 16 points and three steals. George Sabatini added 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting, including 2-for-2 from three. Alex Sherwood supplied 13 rebounds and four blocks. Cooper and Julian Perez scored 15 apiece for Wayland, with Cooper adding eight rebounds.
Banking a win over another nationally ranked team is a strong way to start. Wayland made Ave Maria work all the way to the final possession.
Official box score and play-by-play.
BONTRAGER PLAYS! RV Indiana South Bend spoils Bethel’s opener, 72–70
Caedmon Bontrager did not just dress. He STARTED. The former Indiana Wesleyan standout played 27 minutes and led Bethel with 16 points, adding two rebounds, two blocks and an assist. He shot 4-for-9 from the floor and 7-for-9 at the line.
That is a major development after last week’s commitment announcement. The reigning Crossroads League Player of the Year was already contributing in a Pilots uniform. Bontrager’s appearance belongs high in the opening-week conversation!
But the night belonged to RV Indiana South Bend. The Titans won 72–70 at Gates Gymnasium, spoiling RV Bethel’s home opener in David Osborn’s first season leading the Pilots.
Chris Hurt paced IUSB with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals. Andrew Soenksen had 13 points and nine rebounds; AJ Dunn also scored 13. Bethel’s Chris Grubbs posted 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Hurt’s free throw with 11 seconds left put IUSB ahead 70–69. CJ Hornbeak added two free throws with four seconds remaining. Jackson Ullom made one of two at the line for Bethel, then missed a three at the buzzer.
Official box score and play-by-play.
More close games from Tuesday
Evangel 68, RV Columbia (MO) 62
Evangel won the glass, 43–26, and held off Columbia’s comeback. The Valor led by 18 with 14:09 remaining before the Cougars worked their way back. Harrison Doennig finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Clayton Garrison added 15 points and nine boards. Garrison’s jumper with 25 seconds left made it 67–62. Drew Camacho scored 22 for Columbia and knocked down six threes. Official box score.
Clinton 59, Columbia (SC) 57
Mykell Lawson delivered the winner with four seconds left! Chandler O’Bannon’s dunk tied it for Columbia with 11 seconds remaining, but Lawson’s steal and layup put Clinton back in front. Lawson scored 14 points, and Devinir Garvey posted 13 points and 12 rebounds. A late-game heartbreaker for the Koalas. Official box score and play-by-play.
Calumet 83, IU Columbus 74
Kyrin Dock came within two assists of a triple-double: 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Calumet. Antonio Leavy added 23 points and nine boards as the Crimson Wave took this nine-point decision. Those are two stat lines worth a second look! Official box score.
Avila 85, Kansas Christian 79
Avila led 50–34 at halftime before Kansas Christian made a run at it. Jameson Fisher supplied 17 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Eagles, while Kansas Christian’s Gregg Boudreaux scored 31 on 13-for-20 shooting. Avila held on for the six-point win. Official box score.
Baker 90, RV Friends 84
Jimmy Dorsey delivered 24 points off the bench, including five threes, as Baker held off a late Friends surge. The Wildcats led 76–60 with 6:24 left, but the Falcons cut it to three twice in the final minute. Dorsey hit two free throws with 22 seconds remaining, and Benjamin Ibralic added a free throw and the final basket to finish it. Ibralic totaled 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Eli Benning led Friends with 23 points and seven assists. Official box score and play-by-play.
Warner 69, Florida College 67
Late-confirmed final: Warner picked up a 69–67 road win at Florida College to improve to 3–0 overall (0–0 conference). The Royals have opened the season with three single-digit road wins. Official schedule.
Wednesday’s Games of the Day
Four games on our watch list today. All tip times are Central.
Our Lady of the Lake at Oklahoma Panhandle State — 4:30 PM CT
The early window starts in Goodwell. OLLU gets another road opportunity, while Panhandle State opens its season at home. Official schedule · UEN event page.
St. Thomas (FL) at Bethel (TN) — 7:00 PM CT
Different Bethel, different story tonight! The Tennessee Wildcats welcome St. Thomas to Crisp Arena for their season opener. Official schedule · Bethel men’s basketball Hudl channel · Live stats.
RV Grand View at Midland — 7:30 PM CT
Grand View already has a 90–82 road win at York, with Martez Rhodes scoring 23 in that opener. Can the Vikings make it two straight away from home? Official opener recap · Schedule · UEN event page.
Bushnell at Carroll — 8:00 PM CT
Carroll brings a 2–0 start and a 74–70 win over No. 20 Hope International into its home date with Bushnell. A good late-window game to keep on the screen. Official schedule · Carroll Athletics YouTube channel · Live stats.
Watch note: Bethel and Carroll links lead to official team channels, not confirmed game-specific broadcasts. UEN links are event destinations; live playback is not yet confirmed. Tip times follow school/conference schedules, which may differ from a broadcaster’s displayed start time.
Rankings are from the October 21 NAIA preseason coaches’ poll. RV means receiving votes. Both Bethel and Indiana South Bend received votes; neither has a numbered Top 25 ranking.
Keep up with the action on our Scores & Schedules page.
NAIA hoops. Good At Basketball.
