Weekly Recap 2-17

Bluffton splits on week, sweep Anderson for season series

                  

By Ben Risinger, SID

February 17, 2004

 

   The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (10-13, 4-8 HCAC) was defeated last Wednesday by Mount St. Joseph 48-42 and came home on Saturday for the last home game of the season to defeat Anderson University 80-62 for a series sweep this season. This week will be the final week of the regular season in the Heartland Conference, with many variables up for grabs as to who will get a first-round home contest in the tournament.

Tournament Possibilities

   If the Beavers win both games on the week they will host a home game next Tuesday. If the team splits on the week they could possibly host a first-round tournament game. If the Beavers win one game and loses one or wins both, Bluffton College will finish at fifth in the conference. This all depends on what Mount St. Joseph does this week. The Mount faces No. 2 Hanover on Wednesday and hosts Anderson at home on Saturday. If MSJ wins both games we will be away and if they beat Hanover on Wednesday we would not have a home contest. Check the Bluffton website throughout the week as the scenarios unfold to see where the Beavers will fall.

 

Mount St. Joseph 48, Bluffton 42
   CINCINNATI, OHIO – The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (9-13, 3-8 HCAC) were defeated by Mount St. Joseph (9-13, 3-8 HCAC) 48-42 on Wednesday night.

   The contest was a close one as the Beavers consistently stayed with the Lions throughout the first half, taking the lead twice and tying the game three times. MSJ would march into the locker with a 29-18 lead. In the second half Bluffton came back as they would take the lead 34-33 with 9:07 left in the contest. That lead would be short lived, however, as the Lions would answer right back with a 10-2 run to widen their own lead again to 43-36. The Beavers would battle back once more to be down 46-42 with 20 seconds left, but could not take the game in the end.

Leading the Beavers was senior Brad Boyles (Berne, Ind./South Adams) with 17 points. Sophomore Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) would throw in a team high eight rebounds.
   Bluffton shot 33 percent for the game compared to the Lions 30 percent. The Beavers won the rebounding battle by pulling down 39 boards for the contest to MSJ’s 37. Bluffton committed 22 turnovers for the game, with MSJ posting 16. The Lions would then convert 14 points off of Beaver turnovers.

Bluffton 80, Anderson 62
   BLUFFTON, OHIO – The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (10-13, 4-8 HCAC) defeated the Anderson Ravens (8-15, 3-9 HCAC) for the second time this season, 80-62, in the final home game of the year for the Beavers.

   Bluffton began the afternoon on a very positive note as they went up 15-3 to start the game off. The Ravens made a brief comeback late in the first period as they pulled within eight for a 30-22 Bluffton lead going into halftime. The second period went a little rougher for Bluffton as Anderson pulled within five points (52-47 Beaver lead) at the 10:31 mark. But, the Beavers then capitalized off of free throw shots to widen their lead and pull away with the game for the final of 80-62. Bluffton’s 80 points was their third highest total of the season.

   Bluffton connected on seven 3-pointers for the contest, which is the second highest total of the year. From the free-throw line Bluffton would end up 19-of-20. For the game Bluffton shot 56 percent compared to the Ravens 37 percent. Anderson did out-rebound the Beavers as they pulled down 34 boards to Bluffton’s 24 rebounds. The Beaver bench also produced good numbers for the game with 33 total points.

   Senior Brad Boyles (Berne, Ind./South Adams) posted 26 points to lead Bluffton. Boyles made a career high four 3-pointers and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Freshman Michael Anthony (Ohio City/Delphos St. John’s) posted 18 points off of 7-of-8 shooting for the game. Freshman Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) finished the Beavers double figure scoring with 15 points pulled down a team-high five rebounds. Sophomore Simeon Talley (Columbus/Centennial) threw in a career high nine assists.
 
Beavers in the Heartland Conference
Team Statistics

   The Beavers currently place second in the Heartland Conference in field goal percentage for the season at .484 percent for the year. Bluffton leads the HCAC in rebounding defense by averaging 27.5 rebounds per game. The team also leads the conference in assists with 368 for the season, 16.00 average per game.

Individual Statistics
   Senior Brad Boyles ranks third in scoring in the HCAC with 368 points for the season (16.0 avg. per game). Boyles currently sits at 11th in the nation in field goal percentage (leads HCAC) at 61 percent for the year. Sophomore Scott Bergman sits at 9th in the league in scoring, averaging 13.0 points per game. Bergman also ranks 13th in total rebounds (4.8 per game), 7th in 3-point field goals with 43 for year (1.87 per game) and 5th in defensive rebounding, averaging 3.96 per game. Freshman Michael Anthony ranks 9th in field goal percentage (53 percent) and 6th in free throw percentage 49-of-60 (81 percent).