December 29, 2010
By: Josh Bruner, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team dominated Wright St.-Lake during a 100-64 victory in the McDonald's of Bluffton Holiday tournament semi-finals on Wednesday, December 29, 2010. The Beavers hit the century mark for the second consecutive game while improving to 7-3 on the season. The consecutive 100-point outbursts marks only the second time in school history that Bluffton has accomplished the feat with the other a three-game spurt in 1971-72.
The Beavers started out strong, taking a quick 6-0 lead with four of the points coming from junior ball handler MYCHAL HILL (London/Jonathan Alder). The Lakers responded with a three from JUSTIN FELTZ at the 18:20 mark. The Beavers opened the margin with back-to-back threes from Hill and NICK LEE (Vanlue), cruising to a nine-point lead after two and a half minutes of play.
The Lakers slowly trimmed the lead down, pulling within five with just over 15 minutes left in the half. The Beavers reclaimed the nine-point advantage at the 13:34 mark with a BRENT FARLEY(Lima/Shawnee) layup. Bluffton took a double-digit lead with 10 minutes left in the period after another Lee long ball.
The Beavers continued to pull away from the Lakers as they went up by 19 with 6:31 left in the half after a CAM SAYLOR (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) three-pointer. The Lakers made it a 16-point game at the 4:49 mark after a JORDAN SCHMACKERS jumper. A Lee three-pointer put the Beavers ahead by 22 going into the half.
Bluffton continued to control the game in the second period as Wright State-Lake struggled to keep up with the Beavers' depth and athleticism on the boards. Over the first five minutes the Beavers opened their largest lead of the night (65-31) after a TYLER NEAL (Bluffton) triple rattled home.
The Lakers slowly picked away at the lead, bringing it down to 28 points at the 11:44 mark thanks to a Feltz three. The home team opened a 36-point spread with 8:25 left in the game after a WILL POPE (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) chip shot.
The Beavers maintained the 36-point lead for the next four minutes as a SCOTT SCHNIPKE(Kalida) jumper made the score 92-56. The Lakers got a three from DEREK GAGLE to bring the lead down to 33. Bluffton added three more counters over the last minutes of the game for a 100-64 victory.
The Beavers put five players in double digits for the game. They were led by Pope with 19 and eight boards. Lee added 17 and Hill put up 12 while dishing out five assists. DUSTIN KINN(Alvada/New Riegel) dropped in 11 for the Beavers. Farley chipped in 10 while pulling down a game-high nine boards. The Beavers were outstanding from the field, going 39-of-76 (51.3 percent). They hit 12-of-32 (37.5 percent) from behind the arc, but struggled to a 10-of-20 (50 percent) night at the line.
The Lakers were led by Gagle who put in 20 on 6-of-21 shooting. Feltz added 13 and MATT CLAUSEN 10. Schmackers added nine points and pulled in five boards for the game. Trent Fisher chipped in six points while dishing out five assists. The Lakers struggled from the field, going 24-of-63 (38.1 percent), and 10-of-35 (28.6 percent) from behind the arc. They converted just 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) at the stripe.
The Beavers will be back in action against Westminster on December 30 for the championship game of the McDonald's Holiday Tournament. Bluffton is scheduled to tip at 3 p.m. following the 1 p.m. consolation game between the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and Wright State-Lake.
-BEAVERS-