FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team went on the road after a 14-day layoff and took down Franklin College for its first HCAC victory of the season on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022. Bluffton improved to 5-7 overall and 1-4 in the Heartland, while Franklin fell to 7-9 and 3-5 in the conference.

Franklin jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead before a 17-0 Bluffton jag, capped by a Damian Davis (Bexley) jumper made it 19-10 Bluffton midway through the first half. A Davis triple at the 7:40 mark made it 24-14 in favor of the Beavers. Franklin pulled within three (26-23), but Mike Ketner (Minster) hit a jumper and Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) dialed long distance with 52 seconds in the half as Bluffton led 31-23 at the break.

The Beavers led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but Franklin trimmed it to three (48-45) which forced a Bluffton timeout with 7:31 to play. A pair of jumpers and a triple by Michael Stammen (Versailles) made it 58-49 at the 2:07 mark. Franklin would not go away, hitting three bombs in the final minute, but the Beavers knocked down all 10 of their free throws in the final 28 seconds, including 8-of-8 for Stammen.

A career-high 27 points was on the menu for Stammen who hit 12-of-13 at the line and 7-of-12 from the field on Saturday. He also pulled down a career-best seven rebounds. Marcus Bruns (Coldwater) netted his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Owen and Davis both dropped in nine points and Ketner chipped in with eight counters and three assists.

Bluffton hit 23-of-52 (44.2 percent) from the field, including 6-for-20 (30 percent) from deep. The visitors pulled down seven more rebounds (34-27) and were an outstanding 18-of-21 (85.7 percent) from the line. 

The Beavers return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 19, when they travel to Manchester University. Tip-off from North Manchester, Ind., is slated for 7:30 p.m. There are no visiting fans allowed at Manchester currently.

-BEAVERS-