February 9, 2013
By: Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team lost a tough game to Hanover College on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. The Beavers fell to 10-13 overall and 6-10 in the Heartland Conference, while Hanover improved to 16-7 overall and 13-3 in the HCAC.
Hanover came out ready to play and was quickly up by five (7-2) just over two minutes into the game. The Beavers cut the Panther lead to three with two foul shots from freshman Thayne Recker (Arlington), but Hanover quickly retaliated and went back up by eight with 12:47 to play in the first period.
At the 12:03 mark, sophomore Ryan Ebbeskotte (Fort Jennings/Delphos Jefferson) dropped in a layup to make it a six-point game and less than 30 seconds later, freshman Billy Taflinger (Lima/Central Catholic) got to the rack. Hanover and Bluffton continued to trade baskets for the rest of the half with the Panthers taking a five-point lead into the break.
In the second half, the Beavers relied on the efforts of Will Pope (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) and Dustin Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel) to keep them in the game. Even with Pope and Kinn scoring a combined 41 points, the Panthers still pulled ahead by 20 with 6:51 to play. The Beavers continued to work but the home team was unable to get the Hanover lead to single digits. Two Kinn layups in the final 45 seconds made the final score 79-66 as the Panthers completed their season sweep of the Beavers.
The Beavers were led by Kinn with 21 points, while Pope was not far behind with 20 counters. It marked the first game this season that Bluffton had two players go over 20 points on the same night. Kinn also had seven rebounds while Pope ripped down eight. Ebbeskotte handed out a team-high six assists and he picked up three steals as well.
Bluffton was 26-of-55 (47.3 percent) from the field, while Hanover hit 26-of-51 (51.0 percent). From behind the arc, the Beavers were just 2-of-6 (33.3 percent), compared to Hanover which drilled 12-of-28 (42.9 percent). Bluffton struggled at the foul line, making just 12-of-22 (54.5 percent). The visitors converted on 15-of-18 (83.3 percent) freebies. Both teams turned it over 15 times and Bluffton pulled down two more rebounds (32-30).
The men's basketball team resumes action on Wednesday, Feb. 13, when the Beavers welcome Defiance College for the second game of a women's and men's doubleheader in the Sommer Center. The Senior Night contest is slated to tip at 8 p.m.
-BEAVERS-