January 9, 2002

A gutsy second half performance, led by junior Derek DeNero, gave Bluffton College a 93-90 come-from-behind win over Thomas More College Wednesday night in Founders Hall.

DeNero scored 20 points in the second half on his way to a career high 29 points and the Beavers withstood a furious comeback by the Saints to notch their seventh win of the season against eight losses.

Bluffton led at halftime 47-38 and went up by 13 points with 15:55 left in the game, but TMC went on a 12-0 run at that point and eventually took the lead with 8:00 to go.

With Thomas More up 77-76 with 5:56 to play, BC came out of a timeout with a 9-2 run to take control of the game. DeNero scored seven of those points, including a 3-pointer with 2:19 that sent the home crowd of 627 fans into a frenzy.

TMC answered with a trey of their own, however, but BC hit eight free throws down the stretch to snap a two-game losing skid.

DeNero tied a career high with 13 rebounds and his 20-point effort in the second half was matched only by senior Rod Overmyer's 19-point effort in the first half. Overmyer was on fire in the first 20 minutes, burying three 3-pointers and 8-of-12 field goals, but the Saints put the lock-down on the 6-3 wing in the second half as Overmyer was held without a field goal but did can six free throws.

Overmyer set two career highs as he collected five assists and five steals. Senior Kevin Grey grabbed a career high six rebounds.

DeNero's double-double was his fourth of the season.

Junior Mike Leimeister added 15 points, while junior Marcus Bixler chipped in seven points and dished out five assists.

Thomas More, who shot 63% from the floor in the second half, was led by Nick Love's 20 points. The Saints fall to 3-12 on the season. Their 90 points in the game is a new season high.

Bluffton's 93 points and six blocked shots are both new season highs.

The Beavers will return to Founders Hall on Saturday to take on HCAC foe Transylvania University at 3:00