By Bill Hanefeld Jr., sports information director
December 20, 2005
BLUFFTON, Ohio -The Bluffton University men's basketball team (6-1) traveled to the Motor City and held on for a 72-68 victory over the Mustangs of Marygrove on Monday, December 19, 2005. The Beavers have equaled the 6-1 start by the 1965-66 squad which was the best seven-game opening in Bluffton men's basketball history.
After an Eric Sweet (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) layup, the Beavers went cold from the field and found themselves down 13-6 just over five minutes into the contest. Following a Bluffton timeout, senior Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) hit a short jumper and a long triple to cut the Mustang lead to two (13-11) before Emuel Billings and Javon Anderson, who led Marygrove with 19 points on 8-14 shooting, hit from in the paint to push the Mustang advantage back to six. The Bluffton bench scored five consecutive points, including a three-pointer by junior David Patch (Minster/Minster), to trim the Marygrove cushion to one midway through the first half. Following another layup by Anderson, the Beavers went on an 18-6 run which included four Bluffton treys, two from Bergman, one from junior Ricky Reucher (Toledo/Central Catholic) and one from junior Tom Heil (Stow/Archbishop Hoban). The Mustangs found the basket twice during the final minute of the initial stanza to pull within seven points (38-31) at the break.
Junior Mike Anthony (Ohio City/Delphos St. John's) continued the three-point barrage as he opened the second half with a long-range jumper to put the Beavers up by 10. A three from David Stephens brought the Mustangs to within four points (49-45) before Bergman scored Bluffton's next 10 points putting the Beavers up 59-50 with seven minutes remaining in the game. A pair of Anthony free throws gave Bluffton its largest lead of the contest 63-50, but the Mustangs were not ready to quit. Marygrove went to a full court press which forced five Bluffton turnovers during the next four minutes allowing the Mustangs to go on an 18-6 run. With the Beavers clinging to a one point lead, Bergman calmly sank three consecutive free throws to help Bluffton escape with a 72-68 victory.
Bergman scorched the nets for a season-high 37 points on 12-19 shooting, including 5-9 from beyond the arc. He also hit 8-10 from the charity stripe and pulled down nine rebounds. Anthony was the only other double-digit scorer as he tallied 11 points. Sweet posted a team-high 10 boards and finished with six points. Junior guard Eric Schwieterman (St. Henry/St. Henry) dished out six assists to lead the Beavers.
Bluffton will return to action on Wednesday, December 21 when it hosts Notre Dame College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.