January 5, 2002

Anderson University entered Saturday afternoon's game at Bluffton College as the best team in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference at causing turnovers. And the visiting Ravens showed why as AU forced 24 Bluffton turnovers, which led to 27 Raven points, en route to an 84-77 HCAC victory over the Beavers in Founders Hall.

Bluffton's turnover total tied a season high for the Beavers, which negated BC's 45-32 advantage on the boards and a season-best 88.9% shooting performance from the free throw line.

A 12-3 run by Bluffton late in the first half gave the Beavers a two point lead with 1:34 to go before halftime. Anderson came back to take a 36-34 lead at the intermission, however, and didn't allow BC to regain the lead in the second half.

Bluffton senior Rod Overmyer scored a game-high 21 points and added eight rebounds, while junior Derek DeNero was close behind with 19 points and six boards.

BC junior Mike Leimeister chipped in 11 points and grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds, seven of those coming in the first half.

Anderson's Derek Ricketts knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to a team-high 19 points.

Bluffton falls to 6-8 overall and 0-5 in the HCAC. The Beavers will return to Founders Hall on Wednesday night for a 7:30 contest against non-league foe Thomas More College.

Anderson improves to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the HCAC. These two teams will meet again in Anderson, Indiana on February 2.