BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team dropped the season opener 97-57 at Heidelberg in Head Coach Seth Clark's Bluffton debut.

Back-to-back deuces by Connor Martin (Holland/Springfield) and Cam Rogers (Cincinnati/Christian) had Bluffton within four (9-5) at the 14:40 mark of the first half. It was still an eight-point game despite consecutive dunks by Eric Panning, but a 20-2 jag by the Student Princes put the game on ice as Heidelberg opened a commanding 40-14 lead with 2:20 to play in the first half.

A Myles Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Leo) triple followed by free throws from Thomas and William Layfield (West Chester/Lakota West) made the score 44-21 at the break.

Heidelberg continued to pour it on in the second half, leading by as many as 49 before a Dvonte Smith (New Smyrna Beach, Fla.) trifecta made the score 92-46 with just over two minutes to play. Donovan Barnes (Cincinnati/Walnut Hills) scored nine points over the final 1:56, including seven straight, as Heidelberg closed out its 97-57 victory.

Thomas led the Bluffton scorers with 13 points, while Rogers chipped in with 11 markers. Martin and Rogers pulled down five rebounds apiece. Layfield picked up three steals on Friday night.

The Beavers hit just 14-of-62 (22.6 percent) from the field, compared to a blistering 36-of-72 (50 percent) for the home team. Both teams struggled from distance, with Bluffton making 5-of-25 (20 percent) and Heidelberg 7-of-25 (28 percent). The Berg pulled down 17 more rebounds (54-37) and Bluffton turned it over four more times (19-15).

Bluffton will be back at Heidelberg on Saturday for a 5 p.m. tip with Adrian College in the Ron Linhart Memorial Tournament consolation game.

-BEAVERS-