Bluffton College took a quick 3-0 lead at Manchester College Wednesday night, but a 35-7 run by the host Spartan squad after that was too much to overcome as the Beavers dropped their opening Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game 83-53.
Back-to-back layups by BC sophomore Aaron Markley got the Beavers within three points at 13-10 with 14:06 remaining in the first half, but Bluffton didn't score again until senior Rod Overmyer's jumper with 4:05 left before halftime with Manchster up 35-12.
Junior Derek DeNero scored a career-high 17 points to be the only player in double-figures for the Beavers.
