By: Joseph Watkins, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team played host to conference foe Earlham College on Wednesday, Jan. 29 in the Sommer Center. The home team struggled throughout much of the first half, but the Beavers came out firing on all cylinders after the break and outscored the Quakers 49-25 in the second half to help secure a huge 78-59 victory.
Bluffton dug an early 8-2 hole when Earlham's Blake Bonin nailed a three with just 1:30 off the game clock. Although the Beavers went 11-of-27 from the field during the first 20 minutes, the home team came out on fire in the second half, making the first five baskets to take their first lead of the game at 36-34. The Beavers would put the pedal to the metal and run away with the game en route to a 78-59 win for the home squad.
The visitors were firing on all cylinders from the get go and found themselves up 18-8 with 12:31 on the clock when Chainey Zolman knocked one down from distance. The Quakers extended their lead to 11 (27-16) when Zolman completed the old-fashioned three-point play with 6:45 remaining in the first half. Bluffton would not cave as the Beavers trimmed their deficit to five (34-29) when Dezman Brown (Elyria) knocked down a jumper with time expiring for some much needed momentum going into the break.
The home team picked up where it left off and rattled in nine straight points to take its first lead of the game when Isaiah Taylor (Yellow Springs) drained a pair of free throws to make it 38-34. The visitors would take the lead back on a Zolman four-point play which made it 42-41 in favor of the Quakers with 15:50 left in the contest. It was all Beavers from there as they saw their lead grow to twelve (59-47) on a Taylor tip in with less than 10 minutes to play. The home team controlled the pace the rest of the way, helping secure a huge 78-59 win for the Beavers.
Renner and Brown netted 21 apiece on a combined 16-of-29 from the field, including a blistering 6-of-10 from behind the arc. Renner ripped down with a team-high eight rebounds while Zeddie Pollock (Mogodore) dished out a team-high five dimes in the win. Taylor dropped in 13 points and came down with six rebounds for the home team.
Bluffton hit 27-of-54 (50 percent) from the field and went a sparkling 8-of-14 (57.1 percent) from distance. The home team coughed it up 16 times, four more than the visitors. Bluffton pulled down a whopping 41 rebounds, compared to just 17 for the Quakers. The Beavers dominated second chance points by a 17-0 margin, while holding their own in the paint (30-20).
Bluffton will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 1, when the Beavers host HCAC-leading Franklin College in a crucial conference matchup. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. following the women's game.
-BEAVERS-
