January 19, 2002

Hanover College lived up to their billing as one of the top defensive squads in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference as the Panthers bottled up the Bluffton College offense en route to a 95-50 win over the Beavers in Hanover, Indiana on Saturday afternoon.

Bluffton's point total was their lowest of the season and their 35.2% shooting effort was their second-lowest of the season. The Beavers were outrebounded for the first time in their last five games as the Panthers took a 42-27 advantage on the boards.

Sophomore Michael Kingsley was the bright spot for Bluffton as he scored a team-high 17 points and connected on four 3-pointers.

Hanover (15-3, 6-2 HCAC) converted 17 BC turnovers into 28 points and outscored Bluffton 34-10 in the paint. The Panthers committed just eight turnovers themselves and shot an impressive 54.3% from the field.

Bluffton (7-11, 0-8 HCAC) saw Hanover take a 49-28 lead at halftime.

BC junior Derek DeNero scored 10 points, all those coming in the first half. Senior Rod Overmyer also chipped in 10 points.

Hanover is ranked 6th in the Midwest Region of the latest NCAA Division III Coaches Poll and 24th nationally in the latest d3hoops.com poll.

Bluffton will host Manchester College on Wednesday night in Founders Hall at 7:30.