BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton struggled to score throughout the first 20 minutes as Transylvania used a 41-25 advantage in the first half to secure its fourth straight Heartland Conference victory on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. The Pioneers improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the Heartland with an 89-76 win over a Bluffton squad that is now 2-7 and 0-4 in the HCAC.
A Matt Ray (Indianapolis, Ind./Herron) trifecta followed by a jumper from Cam Rogers (Cincinnati/Christian) put Bluffton up 5-2 just over two minutes into the game. Ray and Rogers added four more counters before Sihr Sumner (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes) got into the scoring column. Michael Stammen (Versailles) knocked down a deuce and then buried two freebies, making it 17-13 with 11:48 to play in the first half.
Transylvania responded with 12-0 splurge and the visitors pushed their spread to 35-22 despite two Stammen charity tosses and a Connor Martin (Holland/Springfield) putback. The Pioneers kept the pedal down, taking a 41-25 lead into the intermission.
Bluffton trailed 56-37 before a hoop and harm for Rogers and consecutive Stammen deuces made it a 12-point game (56-44) with 10:40 on the clock. Stammed continued his assault on the visitors, pulling Bluffton within 10 (82-72) at the 1:48 mark after Ian Snelling (Erlanger, Ky./Dixie Heights) dialed long distance. Ray hit from distance and split a pair at the foul line with time winding down as Transy wrapped up its 89-76 Monday victory.
Stammen erupted with a career-high 32 points thanks to 11-of-12 shooting at the line and 3-for-7 from distance! He finished the night 9-of-19 from the field. Ray dropped in 17 points for the third time in the past two weeks. Rogers added 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Snelling ripped down 10 boards, while Rogers just missed a double-double with nine caroms.
The Beavers hit 25-of-67 from the field (37.3 percent), but just 9-for-32 (28.1 percent) in the first half. Bluffton went 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from outside the arc and 19-of-24 (79.2 percent) at the line. The Pioneers pulled down eight more rebounds (49-41) and Bluffton turned it over one more time (11-10).
Bluffton will be off for Christmas break until Friday, Dec. 29, when the Beavers host Miami-Hamilton in the McDonald's of Bluffton Holiday Tournament. Tip-off is slated for approximately 7 p.m. following the Asbury-Albion matchup that kicks off at 5 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
