Ethan Stearns, sports information intern
HANOVER, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team dipped to 4-13 overall and 2-8 in the Heartland Conference after falling 73-35 in a tough matchup on the road against Hanover College on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023. Hanover improved to 10-7 on the season and 6-4 in the HCAC.
The Beavers started out the game struggling to score as they went into the halftime break trailing the Panthers by 22 (40-18). Bluffton led 4-0 behind mid-range shots from Brady Wheeler (Lima/Shawnee) and Kegan Owen (Indianapolis/Greenwood). Hanover responded with a pair of threes which put the Panthers ahead, 6-4. Bluffton stuck in the game as Wheeler was able to put the ball in the hoop with a couple of layups before a Michael Stammen (Versailles) jumper. Hanover started to pull away at the 11:38 mark, hitting six more trifectas and ending the first period on a 26-8 run. The Panthers went into the intermission leading by a comfortable 40-18 margin.
The Hanover run continued as the home squad came out and rattled off six straight tallies to open the second half. Wheeler was able to slow the bleeding with a layup off of Stammen's second assist of the night. Hanover continued its excellent night offensively, outscoring the Beavers 33-17 in the second half. Despite a couple of free throw makes by Nick Winslow (Norwalk/St. Paul), the Hanover Panthers were able to defeat Bluffton by a final score of 73-35.
Three Beavers combined for 21 of their 35 points: Wheeler (10), Stammen (6), and Winslow (5). Jalen Cromwell (Pickerington/Pickerington Central) made his presence known in the paint, pulling down a team-high four rebounds off the bench. Stammen again led the team in assists, handing out two dimes.
The visitors struggled to score Saturday afternoon, shooting 14-of-56 (25 percent), including making only one three-pointer on 14 attempts (7.1 percent). Hanover proved to be very efficient offensively, shooting the ball at an impressive rate of 53.6 percent (30-for-56) and 10-of-25 (40 percent) from outside the arc. Hanover also dominated the glass, grabbing 44 rebounds, compared to Bluffton's 26.
The Beavers bring it home for their next conference competition as they are slated to welcome Anderson University on Wednesday, Jan. 25, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-