January 2, 2002

Bluffton College shot 50% (10-20) from 3-point range, but host Franklin College shot 68% from the floor in the second half en route to a 94-82 win over the Beavers in Franklin, Indiana Wednesday night.

Senior Rod Overmyer tied a career-high with seven 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 27 points.

Bluffton trailed by just three points at halftime, 48-45, and went on a 7-2 run to open the second half to take a 52-50 lead with 16:24 left in the game. Franklin answered with a 12-3 run, however, to go up by nine points with 13:01 to play.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Overmyer and junior Mike Leimeister cut the lead to seven points at 76-83 with 3:35 remaining in the game, but it would be all the closer BC would get.

Franklin also took a lopsided advantage at the free throw line. The Grizzlies converted 19-of-26 attempts, while Bluffton was 8-for-10.

Junior Derek DeNero scored a career-high 20 points and added five rebounds, while Leimeister chipped in 12 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Sophomore Aaron Markley collected a career-high seven rebounds, while junior Marcus Bixler dished out eight assists.

Franklin's Jed Zarse scored 27 points (his career high) to share game high honors with Overmyer. The Grizzlies shot 57% from the floor in the game and committed just seven turnovers as Franklin Head Coach Kerry Prather won his 300th career game. He is 300-195 in 19 seasons at Franklin.

Bluffton falls to 6-7 overall and 0-4 in the HCAC, while Franklin improves to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the HCAC.

Bluffton will return to Founders Hall on Saturday for a 3:00 game against Anderson University.