The Bob Jones University Bruins basketball teams traveled to Florida on Feb. 13–14 to compete against the Pensacola Christian College Eagles. The stadium was packed with high attendance for each game, including a group of BJU students who made the trip for the rivalry games.

“The atmosphere is the loudest and most electrifying to play in,” said Caitlyn Dickerson, a guard on the Bruins women’s team.  

Unfortunately, BJU lost to PCC in both the men’s and women’s games. The women played first and put up a fight, losing by two points after a missed buzzer beater.  

The men’s game was also very close. Both teams vied for the lead, tying during the first half, before PCC pulled ahead for a 40-30 halftime lead. Shad Vander Hart (22 points) and Trevor Pittman (15 points) led the Bruins in scoring. The game brought the crowd through high and low emotional moments as PCC eventually prevailed 74-68.

BJU students rode a bus from South Carolina to Florida to accompany the Bruins and cheer on their school. While small compared to PCC’s crowd, the BJU student section held its own.

“I always love hearing the crowd cheer,” said Vander Hart, a Bruins starting forward. “The anticipation and excitement are something players feed off. We want as many fans as possible because it makes the game enjoyable, and we want to put on a show for them.” 

The rivalry dates back to 2012 when BJU entered intercollegiate sports, something PCC had already been involved in. The drive for the competition stems from similar Christian values and healthy competitiveness. Over the years, the schools have grown in their ambition to prove that they are the athletically superior school. Incidentally, the athletic directors from the schools, Denny Scott for BJU and Mark Goetsch for PCC, are brothers-in-law, adding a fun dynamic to the rivalry.  

“Rivalries are always enjoyable,” Goetsch said. “There’s something about the elevated intensity, the crowd involvement, and if the game is back and forth throughout, it makes it all the more energetic.” 

Scott compared the schools to siblings who want to beat the other in a game. “Especially,” he said, “when the younger one gets good enough to defeat the older one.” 

However, while the rivalry can be enjoyable, both men emphasized the importance of seeing the competition in the right perspective.

Scott said, “My goal as the athletic director at BJU is to make sure the rivalry still exists in the true spirit of competition.”

He referred to Philippians 1:27 and the idea of striving together for the sake of the gospel.

“At the end of the day, we must see that we are all ‘on the same team’ and we are all preparing to serve the Lord together after the college sports competition is long past.” 

Goetsch, the athletic director of PCC, said something similar. He mentioned that students from these competing schools could one day serve together, whether that be in the “ministry, marketplace, mission field, or military,” and therefore should strive to develop a rivalry that will bond the universities.   

Despite facing tough losses, it likely won’t the last time that the Bruins will face the Eagles this season, potentially meeting again in a playoff game. As the teams finish the regular season, they will continue to work toward playing well in the postseason. 

“We need to continue to learn how to play with consistency,” said Tony Miller, the head coach of the men’s team. “The little things make all the difference in region games, and we need to keep getting better and being consistent in doing those small things. Road experience always gives you the opportunity to get better, and I think [the games] helped light a fire for the remainder of the season.”