By Ben Risinger, sports information director
December 13, 2004
The Bluffton University men's basketball team (3-4) played one game last week at Division I Bowling Green State University on Dec. 8. The Falcons won the game 87-60. The team will be back in action this Saturday, Dec. 18 when they travel to Hiram College. Start time for the game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY 87, BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY 60
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team (3-4) was defeated 87-60 by Division I Bowling Green State University (4-1) at Anderson Arena on Dec. 8.
Leading Bluffton for the night was junior Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) who posted a team-high 15 points and five rebounds. Junior Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) ended the double figure scoring with 11 points. Sophomore Michael Anthony (Ohio City/Delphos St. Johns) and junior Michael Kingsley (Bluffton/Bluffton) both ended the game with nine points.
"We played very well and we played very hard," head coach Guy Neal said. "We would go through a few minutes when everything was good and then they (Bowling Green) would have a six to ten point spurt. I just think that's the difference in the level of play between Division I and Division III."
Bowling Green came into the contest with a definite height advantage that forced the Beavers to take their game outside. The tallest man on Bluffton's roster is 6'6" (Eric Sweet) compared to Bowling Green who has six players who are 6'6" or taller. The Falcons height advantage would hurt the Beavers inside game as it limited them to only 12 points in the lane as Bowling Green posted 52 points under the bucket.
The Beavers did go outside to shoot as they were 9 of 28 from the three point line and 18 of 51 in total field goals for the game. Bluffton shot 35 percent compared to Bowling Green's 64 percent for the contest.
LEADING THE BEAVERS ON THE SEASON
Junior Scott Bergman leads all scoring for Bluffton and the Heartland Conference with 137 total points (19.6 ppg average). Bergman posts 17 assists and 15 steals to lead Bluffton in both categories and is second on the team in rebounds with 31 (12 offensive, 19 defensive). Junior Eric Sweet leads the team in rebounding with 34 for the season (4.9 rpg average) and blocks with a total of 13 for the year. Sweet is second on the squad in points with 81 total (11.6 ppg average) and ranks 16th in the HCAC in scoring. Junior Simeon Talley and sophomore Eric Schwieterman are second on the squad in assists with 16 for the season. Sophomore Michael Anthony is third on the team in rebounds with 29 (16 offensive, 13 defensive).