By: Joseph Watkins, sports information asssitant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team ran the Franklin College Grizzlies out of the gym on Saturday, Dec. 15, as they stomped them 74-52 in an HCAC tilt. The only time the Beavers trailed during the game was at 2-0 and it lasted for a sum total of 14 seconds. It was all Beavers the rest of the way. The team as a whole played superbly as the Beavers improved to 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the HCAC, while Franklin fell to 3-6 and 2-2 in the conference.
This one was all Beavers from the very beginning. Although Franklin scored the first basket of the game, that would be the last time they would lead. Bluffton led 43-25 at the break thanks to a 14-0 jag over the final 4:31 of the first half.
The Beavers kept firing on all cylinders during the second stanza thanks to a handful of three balls by junior Andrew Renner (Cairo/Bath) and some nice dribble drives from freshman Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge). Bluffton extended its lead to 64-47 with 6:57 left in the contest on a layup by senior Justis Dowdy (Van Wert/Lincolnview) which all but sealed the huge victory for the Beavers.
Renner led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the field, including 4-of-8 from behind the arc. He also yanked down a team-high seven rebounds. Cosby netted 14 points on a very efficient 7-of-14 from the field and he also dished out a team-high four assists to go along with it. Senior Jared Wentling (Carey) and junior Isaiah Taylor (Yellow Springs) both scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field
Bluffton knocked down 33-of-66 from the field for 50 percent, compared to 20-for-55 (36.4 percent) for the Grizzlies. The home team pulled down 11 more rebounds (41-30), while committing five fewer turnovers (11-6).
The Beavers will be back in action on Friday, Dec. 28, in the McDonalds Holiday tournament when they take on Ohio Mid-Western at 7 p.m. Come out and support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-