MISHAWAKA – Bethel College will pay tribute to its legendary men’s basketball coach Mike Lightfoot on Saturday.

Lightfoot, who announced last month that he will retire following this season, will be honored prior to Bethel’s home game versus Grace College. A special ceremony, featuring Bethel administrators and other special guests, will take place approximately 15 minutes prior to the 3 p.m. tip-off.

Lightfoot has coached the Pilots for the past 30 years. He has won 785 games at Bethel and led the program to seven national championships. His son and current assistant coach Ryne will take over as head coach following this season.

No. 4 ranked Bethel is 23-3 overall and 12-1 to lead the Crossroads League by two games. The Pilots have won 11 straight games overall and 12 in a row in league play. Bethel posted an 80-77 win at Grace back on Dec. 3.

The Pilots are coming off a 90-73 league win at Goshen College Wednesday night. Senior Clay Yeo, who starred at Triton High School, had 15 points for the Pilots. Yeo has returned to action from a knee injury suffered in November. Senior Nick Kindig, a former standout at Tippecanoe Valley High School, had 13 points for Bethel in Wednesday night’s win and senior Jordyn Coon, a WCHS product, had 10 points.

Bethel has not lost a game since Lightfoot announced his impending retirement on Jan. 5.

The Grace College men’s team is 12-13 overall and 4-9 in conference play. The Lancers have won three in a row, including an 84-74 league win over Huntington at home on Tuesday night.

The action Saturday in the Wiekamp Center on the Bethel campus starts with the women’s game at 1 p.m. versus Grace. The Bethel women’s team is 8-17 overall and 5-8 in conference play. The Pilots have won two in a row, including a 65-52 league win at Goshen on Wednesday night. The Bethel roster includes several former area standouts like Madison Schlock (Northridge), Taylor Fielstra (NorthWood), Savannah Bley (NorthWood), Tanya Bruce (Goshen), Macie Hinen (Columbia City) and Rebecca Schermerhorn (West Noble).

The Grace women’s team is 13-12 overall and 8-5 in conference play after beating Huntington at home 61-59 Wednesday night. The Lancers, who have battled through numerous injuries this season, defeated Bethel 68-60 in Winona Lake back on Dec. 3.