Posted: Dec 19, 2009
December 19, 2009
By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men were defeated by Hiram College in overtime, 71-64, despite both teams scoring exactly 31 points during each half on Saturday, December 19, 2009, in Founders Hall. The loss pushed Bluffton to 0-10 this season, while Hiram improved to 5-3 overall.
MYCHAL HILL (London/Jon. Alder) sparked the Beaver offense with his first of six three-pointers less than three minutes into the game. The Terriers responded with two treys before freshman TYLER NEAL (Bluffton) hit from behind the arc at the 13:40 mark. On the next Bluffton trip down the floor, sophomore STEVEN SWICK (Elida) grabbed the offense board and put it back to tie the score at eight with 13 minutes left in the half.
The lead toggled between both teams during the next few minutes before senior TYLER BRAIDIC (Pandora/Pandora-Gilboa) dialed long distance. With 5:13 left on the clock, Hill hit from deep to give Bluffton the short-term lead, 23-21, over Hiram. A jumper by freshman SCOTT SCHNIPKE (Kalida) gave the Beavers their last two points of the first half, making it 31-31 at the break.
To start the second half, NICK LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) knocked down a trey to put the Beavers up, 34-33. The Terriers regained the lead 30 seconds later and kept it for the next fifteen minutes. At the 3:38 mark, a pair of free throws from Braidic tied the game at 57. With two seconds left, a block by Hiram's CHRIS ROBERTS sent the contest into overtime with the score tied at 62.
In the extra session, sophomore forward BRENT FARLEY (Lima/Shawnee) scored the only two Bluffton points during Hiram's 9-2 rally, giving the Terriers a 71-64 victory over the Beavers.
Leading the Bluffton offense was Hill who went 9-of-12 from the field, including a blistering 6-of-8 from the arc, and a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe en route to a career-high 28 points. Farley produced his fourth career double-double with 11 rebounds and 10 points. In addition he dished out four assists, swatted away four Terrier shots and came away with a steal. Braidic generated seven points, including a trey while going 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Braidic grabbed five boards, had four assists and picked up two steals. Lee added six points for the Beavers.
GLENN CAMPBELL paced Hiram with 17 points and nine rebounds. Teammates DEON MILTON and CHRIS MAYER added 14 and 12 points, respectively. BABAJIDE ENIOLAsnatched 10 caroms and four steals, while Roberts handed out five assists in the contest.
The Beavers were 10-of-23 (43.5 percent) from the three-point line, compared to 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) for the Terriers. Bluffton hit 22-of-52 (42.3 percent) from the field, while Hiram went 28-of-68 (41.2 percent). The home team made one more free throw than Hiram (10-9), but committed two more turnovers (11-9). The Terriers won the game on the boards, racking up 20 more rebounds than the Beavers (48-28), including a whopping 23-8 advantage on the offensive glass.
The Bluffton men return to action on Tuesday, December 29, in Founders Hall when the Beavers host UC-Clermont in the McDonald's Holiday Tournament. The game is slated to start at 8 p.m., following the matchup between Goshen College and Illinois College at 6 p.m.
-BEAVERS-