By Bill Hanefeld Jr., sports information director
January 7, 2006

BLUFFTON, Ohio -The Bluffton University men's basketball team (12-1, 2-0 HCAC) continued its winning ways as it defeated #24 Hanover (8-5, 1-1) by a final score of 71-61 at Collier Arena on Saturday, January 7, 2006. The Beavers have rolled off a men's basketball record 10 straight victories with their only blemish a 63-62 loss on a last second putback by Concordia University on November 29. Bluffton held the Panthers to 20 percent shooting from the field in the first half but the Beavers could only muster an eight point lead at the break as SCOTT BERGMAN(Elmore/Woodmore) scored 17 of Bluffton's 27 first-half points, including a half-court triple as the buzzer sounded.

Bluffton and Hanover struggled to find the hoop during the opening half of Saturday's showdown between HCAC heavyweights, but the Beavers finally took advantage of the Panthers' shooting woes to go up 7-0 at the 17-minute mark following four Bergman points and a trey from junior guard ERIC SCHWIETERMAN (St. Henry/St. Henry). A long-range CLINT PARKER triple with 15 minutes to play in the half was the lone Panther basket until NATE MINYARD hit from outside the arc at the seven-minute mark. The Beavers were unable to capitalize on the Panther lull as three straight Bluffton missed shots allowed Hanover to move to within two points on the Minyard trey. Bergman converted consecutive three-point plays to put Bluffton up 19-11 with five and a half minutes in the half. MARC O'LEARY capped an 8-3 Panther run with a trifecta before Bluffton scored the last five points of the opening stanza, including the long bomb from Bergman, to take a 27-19 lead at the break.

The Hanover men opened the second half much like the Panther women had done earlier in the day as they outscored the Beavers 8-2 during the first two minutes to trim the gap to two points (29-27) before Bergman slowed the onslaught with a smooth jumper. Bergman followed an ERIC SWEET (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) layup with eight points during the next four minutes to put Bluffton up 44-37 with 12 and a half minutes left in the second half. The Panthers responded with an 11-0 run which included two triples from Minyard during the next three minutes to take their first lead of the game, 48-44, midway through the half. Bluffton found its stroke from outside as it knocked down five treys, including two each from Anthony and key reserve DAVE PATCH (Minster/Minster) over the next five minutes to regain the lead 61-55. The Beavers converted on 6-8 attempts at the charity stripe down the stretch to pick up their second win over a nationally ranked team in six days.

Bergman, coming off a week during which he was named HCAC Player of the Month for December along with being selected to the D3hoops.com Team of the Week, left an indelible impression on the fans from Hanover as he drilled 10-15 shots from the field, including 4-7 from downtown, to lead the Beavers with 33 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Sweet finished with 10 points and seven boards. Anthony hit two treys as he chipped in with 12 points and four steals. Patch made two of his three triple attempts and both of his shots from the charity stripe for eight points. The Beavers, who had their best night from the line percentage wise (15-18 for 83 percent), were playing without standout reserves RICKY REUCHER (Toledo/Central Catholic) COLT CUNNINGHAM (Powell/Worthington Christian) who suffered injuries during the Manchester contest. 

Bluffton will return to action on Wednesday, January 11, 2006 when it hosts the Franklin College Grizzlies in another Heartland Conference battle. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Founders Hall.