By: Takayla Gadberry, Sports Information Alumna
BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Bluffton University men's basketball team secured the McDonald's Holiday Tournament hardware with a 70-68 victory over Albion College on Saturday, Dec. 30. The Beavers improved to 4-7 (0-4 HCAC) on the season with the win.
The Beavers won the tip but it was a quiet first two minutes before Ian Snelling (Erlanger, KY/Dixie Heights) hit a shot to give Bluffton a 2-0 lead. A 9-4 run for the Britons saw them overtake Bluffton, 9-6. Albion's lead did not last long though thanks to a Connor Martin (Holland/Springfield) layup and three point shots for Snelling and Matt Ray (Indianapolis, IN/Herron) which put the Beavers back up, 14-9. A 10-5 run for the Britons tied the score up at 19 before a Michael Stammen (Versailles) basket and freebie gave the home team a 22-21 lead with nine minutes to play in the half. Six unanswered points for the Beavers pushed their spread to seven (28-21), but a continued strong offensive presence for both teams sent Bluffton to the locker room up just six (40-34) at the half.
A back-and-forth battle to start the second frame led to a 49-43 score five minutes in. A 7-2 run for the visitors had them within one (51-50) before a Briton steal and bucket saw the visitors on top, 52-51, for the first time since the middle of the first half. Nevin Robson (Kenton/Hardin Northern) drained a trifecta followed by two chip shots which tied the game up at 58 with 5:22 left in regulation.
The Britons pulled away (63-58) but two freebies and another Robson deuce had the home team back within one (63-62). An Albion foul sent Stammen to the charity stripe where he made it 64-63 in favor of the home team. A Beaver foul sent Albion to the line where the Britons took a 68-67 lead, but Cam Rogers (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Christian/Tiffin University) had ice water in his veins as he drilled a triple at the buzzer for a 70-68 Beaver victory!
Powering the Bluffton offense was Robson, who was named the McDonald's Tournament Most Outstanding Player, with 19 points! Snelling added 14 more tallies to the board with Stammen contributing nine in the victory. Snelling and Martin led the defense with five rebounds apiece.
The Beavers hit 26-of-66 (39.4 percent) from the field and 6-of-20 (30 percent) from distance, compared to Albion's 24-of-53 (45.3 percent) and 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from outside the arc. Bluffton knocked down 12-of-16 (75 percent) freebies, while Albion netted 16-of-20 (80 percent). The home team forced 12 more turnovers (18-6) but pulled down 14 fewer boards (44-30). The Beavers finished with 12 steals compared to just one for the Britons.
The Beavers will take a hiatus for New Year's before hitting the court again on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when they travel down I-75 for a contest against Mount St. Joseph. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Cincinnati. Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-