FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team struggled to put the biscuit in the basket as Franklin College capped off its season sweep with a 91-62 victory on Saturday, Feb. 3. Bluffton fell to 7-14 overall and 3-11 in the Heartland Conference, while Franklin improved to 11-10 and 9-5 in the HCAC.

The Grizzlies came out firing on all cylinders en route to a 20-2 lead just over six minutes into the game. Free throws from Myles Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Leo) and Connor Martin (Holland/Springfield) made it 31-10 at the 8:59 mark, but five straight Franklin points kept the Beavers at bay. Two Thomas freebies with 2:25 on the clock made the halftime score 48-18 in favor of the home team.

A hoop-and-harm for Ian Snelling (Erlanger, Ky./Dixie Heights) followed by a step-back three from Stammen made it 53-25 at the 16:43 mark. The Grizzlies responded with 13 straight for a 66-25 lead, putting the game on ice. Josh Crusey (Piqua) and Dawson Troyer (Apple Creek/Waynedale) both knocked down a pair of triples while Caden Slusher (Rockford/Parkway) added a trifecta late in the game. 

Michael Stammen (Versailles) and Thomas led the offense with 11 points apiece. Snelling pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Peyton Smith (Trenton/Edgewood) dished out a pair of assists.

Bluffton hit just 15-of-50 from the field (30 percent), including 5-for 22 (22.7 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers cashed in with 27-of-37 shooting (73.0 percent) at the line. Franklin pulled down two more rebounds (38-36) and the Grizzlies forced Bluffton into eight more turnovers (18-10).

The Bluffton men play their final road contest at Transylvania on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. following the women's contest.

-BEAVERS-