Posted: Nov 28, 2009
November 28, 2009
By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team fell to Adrian College, 65-52, on Saturday, November 28, 2009, in Founders Hall. Despite outscoring the Bulldogs 25-23 in the second half, the home team struggled to make up the 15-point deficit from the first half. The Bluffton men slipped to 0-5 on the season, while Adrian improved to 2-2 overall.
Sophomore guard NICK LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) sparked the Beaver offense as he drove in for the deuce and then hit JORDAN POTHAST (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) for a layup in the first 1:33 of the contest. The two teams then traded hoops throughout the next four minutes of action until a three-pointer from WESLEY REED gave Adrian a lead that the Bulldogs never relinquished.
At the 10-minute mark, senior JOSH EICHAR (North Baltimore) came up with a steal and connected with Lee for two to cut the deficit to five. After a BRENT FARLEY (Lima/Shawnee) swat, Lee capitalized with a jumper to bring the Adrian lead to just two points. A pair of freebies from Eichar at the 7:57 mark tied the game at 21.
From that play on, the Bulldog offense again found its stride as Adrian put together a 21-4 rally against the Beavers that ended as NATE HECKELMAN (Norwalk) hit a streaking Lee for two to end the first half in Adrian's favor, 42-27.
Heckelman started the Bluffton offense in the second half when the sophomore drove to the hoop for a score. Less than a minute after another block, Eichar found Farley for the layin. The Beavers gradually trimmed the deficit to single digits at the 11-minute mark, thanks to a layup from senior CHRIS SINGLETON (Wapakoneta/Ada).
With 10:38 remaining, freshman TYLER NEAL (Bluffton) knocked down a jumper off the bounce to make it a six-point game, 52-46, but the Bulldogs were too much as they countered with a 13-6 run against the Beavers.
The Beavers were paced by Nick Lee with 15 points. Brent Farley put together his second career double-double with 11 points and 11 boards, while also tallying four blocks against the Bulldogs. Nate Heckelman and Chris Singleton added eight points each for Bluffton, while Singleton dished out three assists. Josh Eichar added four points, four rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block on the night while fellow senior Jordan Pothast contributed four points and three assists for the Beavers.
MICHAEL STALEY lead the Bulldogs with 16 points, seven assists, three boards and two steals. MATT WAYNE generated a double-double for Adrian with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Adrian proved more accurate from the line, going 12-of-14 while Bluffton was 13-of-23. The Beavers hit 19-of-42 (45.2 percent) from the field, while the Bulldogs were 25-of-59 (42.4 percent). The home team only made one three-pointer on 16 attempts. Both teams turned the ball over 10 times. Adrian took advantage of its size advantage on the glass as the visitors grabbed 19 more boards than the home team (41-22).
The Beavers will be back in action on Wednesday, December 2, when they travel to Mt. St. Joseph to face the Lions. The first conference contest of the 2009-10 campaign is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-