Posted: Nov 21, 2009
November 21, 2009
By: Josh Bruner, sports information assistant
ALBION, Mich. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team struggled in the first half, putting up only 25 points and allowing 36. Edgewood College added another 35 in the second for a 71-53 victory over the Beavers in the consolation game of the College Basketball Classic on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Bluffton fell to 0-3 on the season, while Edgewood moved to 1-2.
The teams looked evenly matched as they traded points and the lead throughout the first five minutes of action. The Beavers pulled ahead by four after a CHRIS SINGLETON(Wapakoneta/Ada) three-pointer from JOSH FISHER (Rockford/Parkway), with 13 minutes left in the first period.
The Beavers fed off the energy and kept the lead until just under the 10-minute mark, when the Eagles tied it up with a Ben Wisniewski jumper. The Eagles defense tightened during the next couple minutes as they added another four points without allowing the Beavers to score.
The Eagles opened an eight-point spread at the four-minute mark, before NICK LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) cut it to seven after a free throw with three minutes left. The Beavers were unable to reduce the lead any more, going into the break down by 11.
BRENT FARLEY (Lima/Shawnee) ignited the Beavers to start the second half as he put in a jumper to make it a nine-point game. The teams continued to exchange makes through the first five minutes of the half, but the Eagles then went on a 13-0 run over the next five minutes, putting them up 60-35 at the 10-minute mark.
Fisher put an end to the spurt as he dropped in two points following a steal. The Beavers trimmed the lead to 17 after a TYLER BRAIDIC (Pandora-Gilboa) three-pointer. It was too little, too late as Edgewood walked away with the 71-53 victory over the Beavers.
The Beavers were once again led by sophomore Brent Farley who went 5-of-11 from the floor and 1-for-2 at the line for a total of 11 points. Farley was named to the All-Tournament Team for his efforts at Albion this weekend. Lee was close behind with 10, including two hoops from behind the arc. Fisher added six for the Beavers and Braidic chipped in with five.
The Eagles' scoring was evenly distributed as they had five players in double digits. Edgewood proved more accurate from the floor, going 27-of-52, while the Beavers were 20-of-47. The Beavers struggled from the line, making only 50 percent, while the Eagles hit 63 percent. Both teams struggled with ball control as the Beavers coughed it up 18 times and the Eagles 16 times. The rebounding was nearly even for the teams, 31-28 in favor of Edgewood.
The Beavers will be back in action on Tuesday, November 24, when they travel to Trine to face the Thunder. The contest is slated to start at 8 p.m.
-BEAVERS-