January 6, 2018
By: Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team hit the home court on Saturday, Jan. 6 to take on the Anderson University Ravens. After controlling the tip, the Ravens scored first and never trailed as Bluffton fell to the visitors by an 80-70 margin. The loss dropped the Beavers at 5-8 overall (2-4 HCAC), while Anderson improved to 8-5 (3-3 HCAC).
Anderson jumped ahead just 12 seconds into the contest after a jumper by Trevor Lucas put the Ravens up 2-0. Bluffton responded with a layup by MAX GLASS (North Royalton) to tie the game at two. A bucket by Stanley Duncan followed by a layin from ANDREW RENNER (Cairo/Bath) kept the game tied at four before Anderson went on a 13-0 run for a 17-4 spread just over three minutes in. Despite being down by as many as 17, the Beavers refused to give up and kept fighting back. A DEZMAN BROWN (Elyria) trifecta and an ISAIAH TAYLOR (Yellow Springs) tip-in cut the deficit to just four going into the half, capping a 19-6 Bluffton spurt over the final 12 minutes of period one.
Freshman AARON RICH (Greenville) came out on fire in the start of the second half, scoring six points in just over two minutes to keep the Beavers within four. Anderson's offense was just too much for Bluffton to handle as an 8-0 run helped set them up for another HCAC victory over the Beavers.
Leading the Beavers offensively with his first career double-double was sophomore Isaiah Taylor who went 6-of-8 from the field for a total of 14 points to go along with a career-high 11 rebounds. Following closely behind was Andrew Renner with 13 points on 3-of-5 from distance. Brown, Rich and KEVIN CHRISTIE (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) all went for 11 points as the Beavers placed five in double figures. Christie also doled out a game-high seven dimes.
Anderson's 59.1 percent (26-of-44) shooting percentage from the field and 71.4 percent (5-for-7) from behind the arc played a crucial role in their victory as the Beavers were only 45.6 percent (26-for-57) from the field and 40 percent (6-of-15) from deep. The Beavers converted 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) at the line, while Anderson finished 23-for-27 (85.2 percent) at the stripe. AU pulled down four more rebounds (28-24), but the visitors also turned it over four more times (18-14).
Bluffton will be back in action on Wednesday, Jan. 10, as we purple-out the Sommer Center and welcome back HCAC-rival Defiance College to the Beaver Dam for a double-header. The women's tip off is slated for 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 p.m. Come out and cheer on your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-