BLUFFTON, Ohio - A 10-of-15 first half from distance sent the Bluffton University to a 77-70 victory over Heartland Conference heavyweight Hanover College on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024! Bluffton improved to 7-12 overall and 3-9 in the Heartland, while the Panthers slipped to 12-7 and 8-4 in the conference.
Five straight points from Ian Snelling (Erlanger, Ky./Dixie Heights) followed by a pair of Matt Ray (Indianapolis, Ind./Herron) triples put the Beavers up 16-9 less than six minutes into the game. Snelling then sandwiched a pair of deep balls around another Ray trifecta before Myles Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Leo) scored five points in a hurry, knotting it up (30-30) at the 8:29 mark.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Michael Stammen (Versailles) followed by his own new-age three helped the home team open up a 42-33 lead after another Snelling bomb! Stammen fired a three-pointer in with 43 seconds remaining as Bluffton took a 45-39 lead into the break.
Following chip shots from Snelling and Sihr Sumner (Delaware/Rutherford B. Hayes), the offense went dry as Hanover pulled within four points (50-46) at the 14:15 mark. Stammen and Nevin Robson (Kenton/Hardin Northern) pushed it out to eight, but the visitors kept fighting back and were down by just two points with 2:32 to play.
A hoop and harm for Stammen and a Ray fastbreak layup were just what the doctor ordered as Bluffton led 73-66 with a minute on the clock. The Panthers stayed within striking distance before Snelling and Ray free throws sealed up the 77-70 victory!
Stammen led the way with 21 on 2-of-5 shooting from distance and 7-of-8 at the line. Ray cashed in with 17 points on 3-of-4 shooting outside the arc, while Snelling hit four triples on the way to his third double double of the season. He finished with 18 points, 10 boards and four assists. Stammen also doled out four dimes and picked off the Panthers three times. Connor Martin (Holland/Springfield) went for seven points and seven rebounds. He also equaled his three-day old career best with five blocks!
Bluffton pulled down one more rebound (41-40) and Hanover turned it over one more time (11-10). The Beavers hit 24-of-57 from the field (42.1 percent) and 10-of-23 from distance (43.5 percent) despite going 0-for-8 in the second stanza. Hanover struggled outside the arc, hitting only 10 of its 40 attempts (25 percent).
The Bluffton men are back in the Sommer Center for their third straight game on Wednesday, Jan. 31, when Manchester University comes to town. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
