Bluffton College shot a blistering 53% from 3-point range and 55% for all field goals in registering an 84-67 win over Concordia College (Mich.) Saturday afternoon in the consolation game of the Albion College Tip-Off Tournament.
Junior guard Marcus Bixler set a Bluffton single-game record in the process as he dished out 13 assists, topping the old record of 12 held jointly by Darrell Buroker against Taylor in 1980-81 and Dave Sheldon against Adrian in 1994-95.
Junior Mike Leimeister was 11-15 from the floor and scored a team-high 23 points. Senior Rod Overmyer was knocked down seven of 14 shots, including two 3-pointers, to end the game with 18 points, while junior Derek DeNero was 3-4 from trey land and added 17 points.
Bluffton outrebounded Concordia 38-27 and shot shot 59% from the floor in the second half to build a 23-point lead. Concordia knocked that lead down to nine points with 5:26 left to play, but five straight points from DeNero and a bucket from Leimeister put the game out of reach for Bluffton's first win of the season.
Leimeister and DeNero's point total were both new career highs.
Bluffton (1-1) will host Earlham College on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 3:00 in Founders Hall.
