The opening 10 minutes of play was a struggle for control of the game with neither team able to generate any separation. Entering the game, Hanover's MITCHELL MEYER needed just 11 points to give him 1,000 for his career. He got off to a promising start, hitting a layup in the first 30 seconds to give Hanover a quick 2-0 lead. Bluffton's sophomore forward BRENT FARLEY(Lima/Shawnee) fired back with a chip shot of his own to tie the game at two. NICK LEE (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) came out blazing from the field, putting in eight of the Beavers' first 16 points, including two makes from distance.

 

The half ended with both teams battling back-and-forth while struggling to find their groove. TAYLOR DIAL led a balanced Hanover attack in the first 20 minutes, scoring eight of his 11 points in the first half. JAKE INMAN also drained three baskets from the field, scoring six points.

 

The Beavers trimmed the Hanover advantage to a deuce when junior forward ROB LUDERMAN(Defiance/Ayersville) got to the rack with 35 seconds remaining. However, Hanover answered with a layup by JAKE INMAN. Bluffton had a chance to pull within one before halftime, but Nick Lee's three-point shot was off the mark as the horn sounded. The half ended with a 36-32 lead favoring Hanover.

 

The second half began with a layin by Hanover's MIKE CASE to give the Panthers a 38-32 lead. While the Beavers kept the deficit within one possession for much of the first 10 minutes of the second half, the home team created some separation at the six-minute mark. A span of five minutes for the Beavers included three turnovers as Hanover went on a 7-0 run. Bluffton's offensive struggles pushed the Hanover lead to 11 points with 5:34 to play.

 

Bluffton remained resilient, however, by clawing their way back to a five-point deficit. In the end, foul shots enabled Hanover to secure their sixth straight win thanks to 7-of-9 makes with the clock winding down. Hanover's Mitchell Meyer drained the last two foul shots of the game to give the Panthers a 72-65 lead with three seconds left. A late bucket by Bluffton's JOSH FISHER(Rockford/Parkway) made the score 72-67 as time expired.

 

Three starters for Hanover finished the game with double-digit points, including Mike Case (12), Jake Inman (12) and Ryan Nowicki (10). The Panthers also dished the rock very well, finishing the game with 11 assists. Bluffton held Mitchell Meyer to just eight points, leaving him three points shy of 1,000 for his career. Hanover's bench also contributed with 24 points, led by Taylor Dial's 11.

 

Bluffton finished the game with three players scoring double-digits. Mychal Hill paced the visitors with a game-high 19 points. Rob Luderman contributed with a career-high 15 points, while Nick Lee dropped in 12 markers. Freshman Josh Fisher rounded out Bluffton's top scorers with eight points. Rob Luderman also grabbed 10 boards on the way to his first collegiate double-double. The rebounds went to Bluffton by a slim 30-29 margin, but the Beavers turned it over three more times than the home team (13-10).