November 21, 2006
RICHMOND, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team used a 27-8 run midway through the second half to pull away from Earlham College for the 81-68 victory over the Quakers on Tuesday, November 21, 2006. The Beavers improved to 2-1 on the season while Earlham remains winless at 0-3.
The teams traded baskets until TRISTAN GREGORY and MARKOUS JEWETT, who entered the contest averaging 27 points per game, nailed triples to put the Quakers up, 14-10, six minutes into the game. NEIL COLLINS knocked down another three-pointer midway through the first half, giving the Quakers their largest lead of the game, 19-12.
Sophomore NICK WILSON (Payne/Continental) sparked a 25-12 Bluffton run when he knocked down a jumper at the 9:31 mark. Consecutive COLT CUNNINGHAM(Powell/Worthington Christian) triples followed by a PJ JUENGER (Loveland/Archbishop Moeller) basket gave the Beavers a five-point lead, 28-23, with 4:19 to play in the half.
Sophomore post JOSIAH STOBER (Spencerville/Spencerville) found the hoop with a minute left and freshman ZACK KRAUS (Findlay/Findlay) buried a long-range trifecta as time expired to give Bluffton a six-point cushion, 37-31, at the half.
When MIKE ANTHONY (Ohio City/Delphos St. John's) hit a layup to open the second half, the Beavers found themselves up by eight points.
The Quakers did not go away quietly, however, as they stormed back with a 16-2 run, fueled by a pair of LARON HENRY triples and a Jewett three-pointer. A NICK WELSH jumper gave the Quakers a six-point advantage, 47-41, before the Bluffton offense took over.
Back-to-back jumpers from Mike Anthony put the Beavers up for good, 56-54, with 8:29 left in the contest. Stober followed with a layin and when NATE OVERMYER (Payne/Wayne Trace) hit from downtown, Earlham found itself down, 68-57, and was forced to call a timeout with four minutes to play.
The Beavers converted on 11-of-12 free throws down the stretch to secure the 81-68 victory over the Quakers and improve to 2-1 after three games on the road.
All 15 Bluffton basketball players saw the floor as the Beavers' depth wore Earlham down midway through the final stanza. Senior Mike Anthony led Bluffton with 20 points on a phenomenal 8-of-9 shooting night. He was also a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Starting center PJ Juenger tallied 13 points and pulled down six rebounds. Colt Cunningham knocked down two triples on his way to 12 points while freshman Zack Kraus went 3-of-5 from the field and 4-of-4 at the line for 12 points off the bench.
For the game, Bluffton hit 49 percent from the field (28-of-57) and 87 percent at the line (20-of-23). The Beavers nailed 5-of-12 three-pointers (42 percent) and held standout Markous Jewett to 12 points, 15 below his average.
Bluffton will welcome Goshen College to Founders Hall for its home opener on Friday, November 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.