February 25, 2011
NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team fell to Anderson in the first round of the Heartland Conference tournament at Manchester College on Friday, February 25, 2011. The Ravens went up 24-4 midway through the first period and Bluffton never recovered as the No. 3 seed dispatched the Beavers by a final score of 75-60. Bluffton ended its season with a 15-11 mark, while Anderson improved to 18-8 on the year. The Ravens move into the HCAC semi-finals at 5 p.m. on Saturday against No. 2 seed Hanover College before Manchester hosts Transylvania at 7 p.m.
Anderson needed just two minutes and four consecutive Bluffton turnovers to bolt to a quick 9-0 lead, eliciting visions of the Beavers' start against AU less than a month ago in Founders Hall. The Ravens continued to pour it on, going up 24-4 following a JARRIN FORTE triple with 10:15 to play in the first half.
Bluffton pulled to within 24-13 thanks to a NICK LEE (Vanlue) jumper and a BRENT FARLEY(Lima/Shawnee) layin, but Anderson answered with eight straight counters for a 32-13 advantage with 6:24 to play in period one.
WILL POPE (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) capped an 8-0 Bluffton run with a free throw before Anderson closed the half on an 8-4 spurt that made the score 41-27 at the break.
The Beavers made it an eight-point game with 16:51 to play on the strength of back-to-back Farley and DUSTIN KINN (Alvada/New Riegel) chip shots. A Farley deuce at the 8:57 mark kept Bluffton within striking distance. However, an 11-2 Anderson rally pushed the Bluffton deficit to 18 points with less than six minutes to play, effectively icing the contest while sending Anderson into the conference semi-finals against Hanover on Saturday.
Sophomore SCOTT SCHNIPKE (Kalida) used a CAM SAYLOR (Belle Center/Benjamin Logan) dime with 1:51 remaining to make the score 72-58. Schnipke then found ROB LUDERMAN(Ayersville) for the Beavers' final basket of the season with 25 ticks left. Seniors Cam Saylor and Rob Luderman both wore a Beaver uniform for the final time on Friday night in North Manchester, Indiana.
Freshman JOSH JOHNSON (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) paced the Beavers with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from distance. Brent Farley also reached double figures with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field. He just missed a double-double, pulling down a game-high eight boards while blocking three Anderson shots.
The Bluffton men's basketball season came to an end at Manchester as Anderson earned the right to play Hanover College in the semi-finals of the HCAC Tournament.
-BEAVERS-