By: Jordon Bruner, sports information assistant
November 24, 2006
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team used an 11-2 run over the last four minutes of the game to pull out a 79-73 victory over Goshen College on Friday, November 24, 2006. The Beavers improved to 3-1 on the season, while Goshen fell to 3-5.
The two teams traded baskets early on as freshman ZACK KRAUS (Findlay/Findlay) knocked down a three to pull the Beavers within one, 10-9.
Goshen's bench helped key a 15-1 run mid-way through the first half. Bluffton answered the Maple Leafs surge behind the hot shooting of COLT CUNNINGHAM (Powell/Worthington Christian) and NICK WILSON (Continental/Continental). The sophomore tandem combined for 24 points during the Beavers' 28-14 run which trimmed Goshen's lead to one point, 39-38, heading into halftime.
Bluffton started the second half in the same fashion that it ended the first half as the Beavers raced out to a 51-43 lead following a jumper by senior RICKY REUCHER (Toledo/Central Catholic).
Goshen once again used strong play from its bench to outscore the Beavers, 19-7, over the next eight minutes. LANCE CARROLL picked off a pass and went coast to coast for a layup to give the Maple Leafs a 62-58 lead.
Senior MIKE ANTHONY (Ohio City/Delphos St. John's) answered with his own layup which made it a two-point game with seven minutes to play.
Carroll responded by dialing long-distance to give Goshen a five-point advantage.
Sophomore post JOSIAH STOBER (Spencerville/Spencerville) hit two consecutive shots to pull Bluffton within one point at the five-minute mark. A minute later, Cunningham knotted the game at 67 with three of his career high 27 points.
Goshen's BRICE HARTMAN hit back-to-back jumpers, helping the Maple Leafs jump back in front, 71-67. In a game of runs, it was Bluffton's late 12-2 surge that gave the Beavers the victory, 79-73. Bluffton hit 8-of-13 from the stripe during that stretch to close out the win.
Cunningham led all scorers with 27, while knocking down five triples. Anthony contributed with 12 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Wilson finished the game with a career-high 11 points while also tallying six rebounds.
Bluffton won the game despite only shooting 50 percent from the free throw line (13-26). They also shot 50 percent from the field (29-of-58), as well as from beyond the arc (8-of-16). The Beavers held Goshen's leading scorers, Hartman and ERRICK MCCOLLUM, under their average, not allowing a Maple Leaf player to score more than 15 in the game.
Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, November 25, 2006, when it hosts Heidelberg College in Founders Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
-BEAVERS-