Beavers handed two HCAC losses on week
By Ben Risinger, SID
February 10, 2004
The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (9-12, 3-7 HCAC) posted two losses last week in the Heartland Conference season. The men are currently tied for fifth place in the conference. Last Wednesday the team lost at Franklin, 77-59. On Saturday the team was back at home to take Transylvania University down to the line, but could not come out with the win. The final was 69-63 in favor of the Pioneers. This week the Beavers will travel to Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday (Tip off 7:30 pm) and will come back home on Saturday as they face Anderson University. Tip off for the Anderson game is slated for 3 pm.
FRANKLIN 77, BLUFFTON 59
FRANKLIN, IND. – The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (9-11, 3-6 HCAC) were defeated by the Franklin Grizzlies (12-8, 4-5 HCAC) 77-59 on Wednesday night.
The game started off on a pretty even note as Bluffton was behind for most of the first half, but kept the score consistently within a 5-point Grizzly lead. The halftime score was Franklin 34, Bluffton 29. At the 15:50 mark in the second period the Beavers took the lead 38-37 off of a lay-up by Scott Bergman. Over the next five minutes Franklin used turnovers and missed Bluffton shots to take the lead for good to go up 52-42 with eight minutes left in the game.
Leading Bluffton was sophomore Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) with 18 points for the contest. Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) was the only other Beaver in double figures with 12 for the night.
Statistically, the game was very even. Bluffton out-rebounded Franklin 26 to 23. The Grizzlies shot 52 percent from the field compared to the Beavers 51 percent. Turnovers hurt Bluffton as they committed 23 to Franklin’s 16.
TRANSYLVANIA 69, BLUFFTON 63
BLUFFTON, OHIO – The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (9-12, 3-7 HCAC) were defeated by Transylvania University (13-6, 7-3 HCAC) 69-63 on Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers took control of the game very early. Bluffton committed five turnovers in the first six minutes, to fall behind 14-4. The Beavers would battle back and cut the lead to four points with 2:40 left, but Transylvania answered back with a quick 8-0 run. Bluffton shot 36 percent in the first period which contributed to a halftime score of 33-21 in favor of the Pioneers.
The Beavers shooting dramatically improved in the second period by posting an incredible 68 percent, but it was not enough to close the gap. Bluffton would pull within three points with 4:20 remaining after a free throw by Sophomore Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf). Sophomore Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) made the Beavers only three-point field goal with 24 seconds left to play, but it was not enough as Transylvania was able to make free throws down the stretch for the final score of 69-63. Bluffton has made at least one three-point shot in every game dating back to the 1992-1993 season. This streak now stands at 289 games.
Leading the Beavers on the day was Senior Brad Boyles (Berne, Ind./South Adams) with18 points. Sweet chipped in 14 points. Bergman rounded off the double figure scoring with 11 points and pulled down a game high nine rebounds. Bluffton out rebounded Transylvania 33-26, and posted 22 points in the paint compared to Transylvania’s 16.
Beavers in the Heartland Conference
Due to a technical problem at the conference office, updated statistics are not yet available. Log on to www.heartlandconf.org soon to get the latest in the conference men’s basketball standings and statistics.
