By Ben Risinger, sports information director
January 11, 2005
The Bluffton University men's basketball team (7-5, 1-1 HCAC) defeated No. 9 Hanover College 59-55 on Jan. 8. The Beavers then traveled to Manchester College for another HCAC contest and dropped a nail biter 63-61. This week the men's team will travel to Franklin College on Jan. 12 (7:30 p.m. start) and will be back at home on Jan. 15 when they host Transylvania. Tip off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY 59, HANOVER COLLEGE 55
The Bluffton University men's basketball team (7-4, 1-0 HCAC) defeated No. 9 Hanover College (10-3, 1-1 HCAC) 59-55 on Jan. 8.
Bluffton is now on a four-game winning streak and broke Hanover's 26-game Heartland Conference winning streak that they had carried over the past few years. The victory is the Beavers first over Hanover since Feb. 3, 2001, when they defeated the Panthers on the road 73-72.
Junior Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) led both teams and tied his career high with 29 points. Sophomore Michael Anthony (Ohio City/Delphos St. John's) posted 17 points, four steals and six rebounds. Sophomore Eric Schwieterman (St. Henry/St. Henry) ended the afternoon with six rebounds and four assists.
The Panthers led the contest for most of the first half as Bluffton tied the game five times before taking the lead at the three minute mark 24-21. At halftime the Beavers held a narrow lead 26-24. Bluffton came out strong in the second half as they led until the six minute mark when Hanover's Ben Lye hit a quick jumper to take back the game 48-46.
The Beavers would not be outdone as Bergman hit his second three-pointer in a row three minutes later (2:45 mark) to help Bluffton take back the lead for good 55-52. The final outcome would see Bluffton win their 2004 conference opener 59-55.
MANCHESTER COLLEGE 63, BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY 61
The Bluffton University men's basketball team (7-5, 1-1 HCAC) was defeated 63-61 by Manchester College (7-6, 1-1 HCAC) on Jan. 10.
Leading the way for Bluffton was junior Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) who posted a career-high 20 points. Sweet also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the game. Junior Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) connected on 14 points, nine rebounds (team high), three assists and two steals. Sophomore Michael Anthony (Ohio City/Delphos St. John's) ended the double digit scoring with 14 points.
The contest was extremely close as the teams exchanged the lead several times in the first half. The Beavers held Manchester's lead to around seven for much of the first period until late in the half when the Spartans began to dominate on the boards. At halftime Manchester led the game 37-27. The second period found the Beavers with a renewed strength as they pushed the Spartan lead to one (48-47) with 12 minutes remaining. Bluffton would then lead the game (61-60) with 41 seconds left as Scott Bergman connected on two free throws. The Spartans answered right back as Jamaal Wade hit the game-winning three pointer. Manchester would take the contest 63-61.
The Beavers shot 43 percent (23-of-53) for the contest to Manchester's 44 percent (24-of-54). Manchester led on the boards with 35 rebounds compared to Bluffton's 25.
BERGMAN NAMED HCAC PLAYER-OF-THE-WEEK
Junior Scott Bergman was named the Heartland Conference's men's basketball player-of-the-week for the week ending Jan. 9.
Bergman helped Bluffton defeat No. 9 Hanover College 59-55 on Jan. 8. The victory snapped Hanover's 26 game Heartland Conference win streak and gave the Beavers their own win streak of four games.
Bergman tied his career-high of 29 points as he went 8-of-14 in shooting from the floor. He knocked down eight three pointers, one short of the HCAC and Bluffton University single game records. For the contest he also pulled down three rebounds.
LEADING THE BEAVERS ON THE SEASON
HCAC TEAM STATISTICS
The Beavers currently rank 5th in field goal percentage (290-of-652) in the Heartland Conference at .445 percent and rank third in 3-point field goal percentage at .374 percent (74-of-198). Bluffton ranks third in steals (102), assists (181) and assist/turnover ratio at 1.09 in the league.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Scott Bergman continues to lead Bluffton and ranks second in the HCAC in scoring as he averages 19.8 points per game (237 total points). Bergman also leads the team in rebounds (63) and steals (22) as he ranks 13th in the conference in rebounding and third in steals. Eric Sweet is second on the team in points (11.5 points per game) and rebounds (60). Sweet ranks 16th in the HCAC in scoring and 14th in rebounding. He leads the team with 20 blocks for the year which places him at second in the conference. Michael Anthony ranks third on the squad in scoring (11.4 points per game) and rebounding (52). Anthony posts a .829 free throw percentage to place him at third in the HCAC. Eric Schwieterman leads Bluffton with 36 assists which is good for 10th in the conference.