Men’s basketball beats Earlham, falls to Heidelberg
Sports Information Staff Report
12-1-03
The Bluffton College men’s basketball team played their first home game last Wednesday before traveling to Heidelberg on Saturday. The Beavers opened up at Founders Hall this season with a 74-67 win over Earlham but were defeated on the road by Heidelberg 84-81. Bluffton now posts a 2-2 record this season.
Bluffton 74, Earlham 67
The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (2-1) picked up the win over Earlham College, 74-67, on Wednesday night with an incredible 67 percent shooting from the floor. Senior Brad Boyles and Sophomore Scott Bergman combined for 40 points to lead Bluffton.
The Beavers led the entire contest until the eleven minute mark in the second half when the Quakers had a brief stint at leading the game. With 1:02 left in regulation, both teams found themselves tied for the sixth time, 66-66. A good three pointer by Boyles put the score 69-66. Earlham would score once more, but free throws by the Beavers helped attain the final tally of 74-67.
Leading the Beavers on the night was sophomore Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) with 25 points. Bergman tied his career high in points with 25 and three pointers with four. Senior Brad Boyles (Berne, Ind./South Adams) was the only other player in double figures with 15 points. Sophomore Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) led the team in rebounds with six on the evening and posted eight points. Sophomore Simeon Talley (Columbus/Centennial) had nine points and a team high five assists.
Bluffton 81, Heidelberg 84
For the second straight year, the Bluffton College men’s basketball team (2-2) fell by the same score of 84-81 to Heidelberg College. Last year at Bluffton, the Beavers were downed by a final second shot by the Student Princes.
The Beavers led at the half with a 44-39 lead and almost the entire second half until the four minute mark when they finally took the lead, 72-71. The lead would go back to the Beavers briefly as Bluffton and Heidelberg would swap the ball back and fourth. With the score tied 81 all and two seconds left on the clock, Simeon Talley went for the three pointer to take the lead and did not connect. The Student Princes would regain possession as Kenny Gilbert would post a three for the final tally of 84-81.
Four of the Beavers five starters showed double figure scoring. Senior Brad Boyles (Berne, Ind./South Adams) led Bluffton with a career high 31 points for the contest, connecting with 100 percent shooting from the free-throw line going 9-of-9. Freshman Michael Anthony (Ohio City/Delphos St. John's) also had a career high day in his fourth collegiate game with 19 points, connecting 3-of-4 three pointers for the contest. Sophomores Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) posted 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds, with Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) throwing in 10 points.
Senior Brad Boyles tops the Beavers and the Heartland Conference in scoring with 19.8 points per game this season and ranks 2nd on the team and in the HCAC with a .725 field goal percentage. Scott Bergman ranks 3rd in the HCAC in scoring and second on the BC squad with 17.5 points per game. Bergman also ranks 8th in the HCAC in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game. Freshman Michael Anthony’s team leading .750 field goal percentage currently leads the Beavers offense and tops the HCAC. Eric Sweet adds 10.3 points per game for Bluffton while Simeon Talley leads the Beavers with 13 assists on the year.
Bluffton has two scheduled games this week, first traveling Kenyon on Tuesday and then returning to Founders Hall on Saturday for a match-up with Temple Baptist. Tuesday’s game against Kenyon is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start time while Bluffton’s home contest against Temple Baptist on Saturday will tip-off at 3 p.m.
