By: Jordon Bruner, sports information assistant
November 25, 2006
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team hit 32-of-37 at the charity stripe to pull out a 75-73 victory over Heidelberg College on Saturday, November 25, 2006. Bluffton improved to 4-1 on the season, while the Student Princes fell to 2-2.
Heidelberg raced out to an early lead after CHAD SZALAY hit SHAWN SHRIVER on a backdoor cut to give the Student Princes a 6-0 advantage.
Just like the night before, Bluffton used another run to pull even as they outscored the Student Princes by eight points over the next three minutes. NATE OVERMYER (Payne/Wayne Trace) helped lead the surge with five points during that span.
GREG TYSON ended the Bluffton rally with a steal and a breakaway dunk to put Heidelberg back on top. Heidelberg extended that lead over the next five minutes of the game as another dunk by Tyson and back-to-back three pointers by ANDREW LEMMON and JAKE HESSEYgave the Student Princes a 21-14 lead.
Bluffton's upperclassmen helped the Beavers climb back into the game. Senior MIKE ANTHONY (Ohio City/Delphos St. John's) gave Bluffton its first lead when he took a pass fromCOLT CUNNINGHAM (Powell/Worthington Christian) and knocked down a trey to give the Beavers a 34-33 advantage. Overmyer continued his stellar play in the first half, scoring five straight points to help Bluffton go into the locker room with a 39-37 advantage.
Early in the second half, Bluffton went on a 10-0 run to grab a 49-40 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the game. Freshman ZACK KRAUS (Findlay/Findlay) led the Beavers with five points during that span.
A three-pointer by JOSH CALVER helped key a 19-6 run by Heidelberg over the next seven minutes of the game. BRIAN SCHMIDT'S back-to-back layups helped the Student Princes regain the lead, 59-55, with seven minutes left in the game.
Anthony used strong drives to the hole to drop in consecutive baskets and help Bluffton tie the game at 61.
Down 70-69, Cunningham was fouled on a three-point attempt with the shot clock winding down and 26 seconds left on the game clock. Cunningham connected on all three, giving the Beavers a 72-70 lead, a lead they would not relinquish.
One play later, Anthony stripped a Heidelberg player and was fouled, sending him to the line for two shots. Anthony knocked down both shots to seal the victory. Bluffton showed no signs of reliving last night's woes from the free throw line as the Beavers were lights out over the last six minutes of the game. As a team, they shot 14-of-15 from the charity stripe during that stretch, helping Bluffton claim a 75-73 victory over the Student Princes.
Anthony led Bluffton with 17 points on the night, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. Overmyer contributed with 13 points, all of which were in the first half, while Kraus and P.J. JUENGER (Loveland/Archbishop Moeller) each added 10 points.
Bluffton shot only 40 percent from the field (20-of-50) and 20 percent from beyond the arc (3-of-15). From the free throw line, they were an amazing 32-of-37, including 18-of-20 in the second half.
Bluffton returns to action on Tuesday, November 28, 2006, when it travels to Hiram College to face the Bulldogs. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.