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Bluffton rolls past Franklin but fall to Transy

Posted: Feb 08, 2005

Sports Information Staff Report
February 8, 2005

The Bluffton University men's basketball team (11-10, 4-6 HCAC) split their Heartland Conference games last week as they defeated Franklin College 72-65 on Feb. 2 and dropped a 90-64 decision to Transylvania University on Feb. 5.  This week the Beavers will take on Mount St. Joseph on Feb. 9 (7:30 p.m. start) in Founders Hall and will travel to Anderson University on Feb. 12 (3 p.m. tip off).

BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY 72, FRANKLIN COLLEGE 65
The Bluffton University men's basketball team (11-9, 4-5 HCAC) picked up an important win as they defeated Franklin College (13-7, 5-4 HCAC) on Feb. 2 in Founders Hall.

Franklin started the game by jumping out to a quick five point lead nearly three minutes into the contest. The Beavers fought right back and the lead changed a dozen times over the course of the first half. Strong shooting by both teams kept the game close going into halftime as the Grizzlies led, 35-33.

The second period continued with both teams exchanging the lead once again. Bluffton would tie the game at 47-47 with 15:05 left and never fell behind again. A layup by junior Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) would give the Beavers a seven point lead with 2:36 remaining and the Grizzlies could not close the gap. The game was sealed by a steal and two late free throws with five seconds left by junior Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore). The final score would be 72-65 in favor of the Beavers.

Bergman finished with 24 points (team high) for the night. He also dished out six assists which ties his career-high. Sweet contributed 12 points and grabbed four rebounds. Junior Darren Clark (Plain City/Jonathan Alder) rounded out double digit scoring and posted a career high with 11 points which included 3-of-4 shooting from behind the arc.

For the game Bluffton shot 50 percent (25-of-50) compared to 46 percent (24-of-52) for the Grizzlies. Each team pulled down 26 rebounds and the Beavers finished with 30 points in the paint to Franklin's 24.

TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY 90, BLUFFTON UNIVERSITY 64 
The Bluffton University men's basketball team (11-10, 4-6 HCAC) was defeated by Transylvania University (17-3, 9-1 HCAC) 90-64 on Feb. 5.

Junior Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa Glandorf) posted 12 points, three rebounds and two steals to lead the Beavers on the contest. Junior Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) added 12 points and three rebounds on the evening.  Sophomore Eric Schweiterman (St. Henry/St. Henry) led the team with four assists.  Junior Darren Clark (Plain City/Jonathan Alter) posted a team high three steals. 

The Beavers stayed with the Pioneers for the first six minutes of the contest.  With 14 minutes left in the first half Transylvania went on an 11-0 run to open their lead up (22-9).  At half time Transy led the game 52-26.  Bluffton struggled from the floor as they shot 36 percent for the first half to the Pioneers 65 percent.  The Beavers committed 11 turnovers that Transylvania converted to 18 points in the opening period. 

Bluffton shot better on the boards in the second half, but could not cut the Transylvania lead.  The Beavers connected on 40 percent of their shots in the second half to the Pioneers 48 percent shooting for the period.

Bluffton led the game in rebounds with 31 compared to Transylvania's 30 boards. The Pioneers shot 59 percent (33-of-57) to the Beavers 38 percent (19-of-49) for the game.

LEADING THE BEAVERS ON THE SEASON
HCAC TEAM STATISTICS
The Beavers currently rank third in free throw percentage with a .715 average and fourth in field goal percentage with .457.  Bluffton ranks third in 3-point field goal percentage with .368 and second in assists with 326.  The team ranks fourth in the HCAC in blocked shots with 53, fourth in steals with 162 and fourth in offensive rebounds with 239.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
Scott Bergman continues to lead the Heartland Conference and ranks 19th in NCAA Division III in scoring with 455 total points (21.7 points per game).  Bergman surpassed the 900 point mark last week and now totals 914 points for his career.  Bergman leads the team in steals with 36 (fourth in HCAC) and three point field goals made with 58 (second in HCAC).  Bergman also ranks in the top twenty in the Heartland Conference in several other statistical categories.  Eric Sweet is second on the team in scoring with 241 points (17th HCAC) and leads the Beavers in rebounds with 115 on the year (10th HCAC).  Sweet currently places fifth in the conference in field goal percentage with a .551 average and ranks second in the HCAC in blocks with 36 total. Michael Anthony leads Bluffton in free throw percentage with a .826 average and ranks fourth in the HCAC.  Eric Schweiterman tops the Beavers in assists with 61 total (ninth in HCAC).