January 31, 2001


Bluffton College came up a bit short in their efforts to stay in the runner-up spot in the Heartland Conference as a visiting Mount St. Joseph squad handed the Beavers an 82-70 loss Wednesday night in Founders Hall.

Bluffton sees their record slip to 13-6 overall and 4-4 in the HCAC, while Mount St. Joseph improves to 12-7 overall and 5-3 in the HCAC.

There were 13 ties or lead changes in the first half before the Mount took a 37-35 lead at halftime. A 7-0 Bluffton scoring spurt around the 12 minute mark in the second half gave the Beavers a four point lead, but it would be their last of the night as Mount St. Joseph guard Jarett Young scored 11 straight Lion points to put the visitors up by five points. An 11-0 MSJ run late in the game sealed the verdict in favor of the Cincinnati natives.

Bluffton senior Chad Cramer (Bellevue) collected his second double-double of the season in leading BC with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds and three blocks. Junior Travis Elsass (Wapakoneta/Jackson Center) added 15 points and junior Rod Overmyer (Payne/Wayne Trace) scored 12. Senior Ben Coole (Butler/Clear Fork) chipped in 10 points and senior Chris Sheldon (Bucyrus/Wynford) dished out a game-high eight assists.

Jared Franz led Mount St. Joseph with 25 points and seven rebounds.

Bluffton will travel to Hanover College on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. contest.