TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team was unable to overcome a 19-point first half as Rose-Hulman downed the Beavers 70-60 on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Bluffton fell to 5-14 overall and 1-10 in the Heartland Conference, while Rose improved to 11-8 and 7-6 in the HCAC.

An old-fashioned three-point play by Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) less than three minutes into the game put Bluffton up 7-6, but that was the only time the Beavers were on top Saturday at Rose-Hulman. Cosby and Michael Stammen (Versailles) knocked down jumpers to keep Bluffton close before an 11-0 run by the home team broke it open at 23-11. The Engineers led by as many as 18 points in the first half until a Cosby triple with 43 seconds on the clock made it 34-19 at the break. 

Stammen and Mike Ketner (Minster) uncorked long balls to open the second half as Bluffton made it a 12-point game two minutes into the final stanza. The Beavers used a 13-0 jag to pull within five points (46-41) with 11:19 to play. Marcus Bruns (Coldwater) and Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) dialed long distance, while Miguel Ringer (Cincinnati/Christian) chipped in seven counters for the good guys.

Bluffton kept the pressure on with a Cosby trifecta and a hoop-and-harm from Ringer, pulling within 52-49 at the 7:08 mark. However, less than three minutes later the deficit was 13 and the Engineers had effectively put it on ice. Cosby hit four late freebies and Ketner converted an old-fashioned three-point play, but Rose snapped its three-game skid with a 70-60 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Cosby led the Beavers with 19 points and he also pulled down five rebounds. Ringer and Stammen followed with 14 and 11 markers, respectively. Bruns finished with seven points and seven boards. Stammen picked up a game and career-high four steals.

Rose pulled down six more rebounds (35-29) and the Engineers forced Bluffton into three more miscues (13-10). The Beavers hit 19-of-47 (40.4 percent) from the field, but only 6-for-22 (27.3 percent) outside the arc. The visitors were an efficient 16-of-21 (76.2 percent) at the line. RHIT dominated in the paint (30-10) and 18-5 on second chance points.

Bluffton will travel to Earlham College on Wednesday, Feb. 9, for a 7:30 p.m. meeting with the Quakers.

-BEAVERS-