BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team downed Kalamazoo for its second straight victory in the Sommer Center on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Bluffton improved to 2-3 on the season, while the Hornets also stand 2-3 following their loss.
Bluffton trailed 30-18 with just over eight minutes to play in the first half when the tide turned. Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) scored five quick points before Nolan Finch (Toledo/Cardinal Stritch) and Damian Davis (Bexley) joined the party. Finch scored again and Michael Stammen (Versailles) knocked down a jump shot in the paint as Bluffton pulled within a point (32-31). Cosby and Mike Ketner (Minster) capped off the 23-5 jag with three-point bombs that put the good guys up 41-35 at the break.
Miguel Ringer (Cincinnati/Christian) picked off the Hornets to open period two and he hit Stammen in stride for a 43-35 lead before Kalamazoo found its rhythm. The visitors turned it all the way around, going up 62-58 at the eight-minute mark. However it was deja vu as Bluffton responded with a 13-0 spurt that was ignited by another Ketner triple!
The visitors pulled within four points (73-69) when Ty Horky knocked down all three of his freebies with 33 ticks remaining, but Stammen answered with a pair of foul shots and Ketner sealed the 76-70 victory when he hit one-of-two from the stripe with 26 seconds to play.
Cosby set a new career-high for the second time this season, hitting 4-of-10 from deep for 29 points! Stammen also eclipsed his career-best with 14 points on 6-of-13 from the field. Ketner went 3-of-6 from outside the arc for 12 points. Cosby and Ketner ripped down eight rebounds apiece. The eight rebounds doubled Ketner's career high. Stammen dished out four assists and Ketner picked up three steals.
Bluffton finished 31-of-63 from the field (49.2 percent), including 7-of-20 (35.0 percent) from distance. Both teams pulled down 35 rebounds. Bluffton was outstanding with the rock, turning the ball over just six times, compared to 11 miscues for the Hornets. The home team hammered away inside, scoring 44 points in the paint.
The Beavers hit the road for a 2 p.m. shindig at Hanover College on Saturday, Dec. 4, kicking off Heartland Conference action with the Panthers.
-BEAVERS-
