BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team closed out its Heartland Conference rivalry with Defiance College in style on Friday night, rolling to a 93-79 victory over the Jackets! Bluffton finished its first season under Head Coach Seth Clark with an 8-17 record, including a 4-14 mark in the HCAC. Defiance will head to the NAIA after a 1-23 campaign in which DC went 0-18 against HCAC competition.
It was 6-5 Bluffton when Connor Martin (Holland/Springfield) got loose for six quick points which helped push the lead to 14-5 at the 13:05 mark. A Nevin Robson (Kenton/Hardin Northern) triple made it 24-14 and the Beavers kept their feet on the gas, opening a comfortable 46-25 lead when he got to the rack late in the first half.
An old-fashioned three-point play from Michael Stammen (Versailles) had the home team humming and Myles Thomas (Chicago, Ill./Leo) dropped in seven counters during the 22-8 spurt. Defiance stayed within striking distance (46-30), bucketing the final five points of the opening stanza.
Thomas continued to dominate the visitors, scoring eight points in less than five minutes on the way to a 59-35 Beaver advantage. Powerhouse dunks by Robson and Matt Ray (Indianapolis, Ind./Herron) in a span of just two minutes kept the Beavers in control (67-47) with 9:05 to play.
Another seven points from Thomas followed by five Stammen counters iced it as Bluffton led 81-61 inside of five minutes. The visitors trimmed the deficit to 10 with 1:23 to play, but four Stammen freebies and an Aiden Alialy (Indianapolis, Ind./Indianapolis Lutheran) drive down broadway capped the 93-79 victory on Friday night.
Thomas saved his best for last with a performance for the ages. He hit a ridiculous 9-of-10 from the field for a career-high 23 points! The graduate transfer added seven boards and four assists. Stammen was also sensational, just missing a double double with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists. He was a perfect 9-of-9 at the line.
Martin, who was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, and Ian Snelling (Erlanger, Ky./Dixie Heights) chipped in 12 and 10 points, respectively. Snelling finished with eight rebounds and five dimes, while Martin collected seven caroms. Robson was 4-of-5 for nine points.
Bluffton hit 36-of-63 from the field for a red-hot 57.1 percent despite cashing on just 4-of-20 (20 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers were 17-of-22 (77.3 percent) at the line. Bluffton dominated the glass (46-32), but the home team also turned it over six more times (13-7).
With the Defiance victory in the books, the 2023-24 season is now complete. Continue to check the website over the coming weeks for any All-HCAC honors as well as updated record books!
-BEAVERS-
