December 6, 2014
FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team jumped on THAYNE RECKER'S (Arlington) back and rode the junior post to a 74-70 win at Franklin College on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. The Beavers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the HCAC on the strength of a career-high 33 points from Recker. Franklin stayed winless at 0-7 and 0-2 in the conference.
A fast break layup by ROBBIE PRATHER, Head Coach Kerry Prather's son, gave Franklin the early 9-3 lead just 3:27 into Bluffton's second HCAC contest of the season. TREY ELCHERT (Jackson Center) got to the rack for a layin that ignited a 10-2 Bluffton spurt which made the score 13-11. Recker did the damage with three straight hoops and a pair of free throws as Bluffton went up 13-11 at the 12:41 mark.
With Franklin back up by six points, freshman ANDREW FINLEY (Cincinnati/Walnut Hills) responded with eight straight counters that helped Bluffton forge a 27-25 lead. He converted an old-fashioned three point play, a pair of freebies and a triple before Recker capitalized on a feed from junior BILLY TAFLINGER (Lima/Central Catholic).
Sophomore AUSTIN ROHDE (Shelby) drained two from the line and hit twice from in close as the Beavers went to break tied 35-35. Consecutive threes from Franklin kept the visitors from any separation as the first half ticked away.
Period two proved to be more of the same as four points was the magic number until seven straight Bluffton markers made the score 66-60 at the 5;42 mark. Finley hit from distance before layups from Taflinger and JOSH WOODRICH (Navarre/Central Christian) drove the lane for the six-point lead. The Beavers were a perfect 10-of-10 at the stripe over the final five minutes, helping Bluffton stay perfect in the HCAC with the hard-fought 74-70 victory!
Recker hit 11-of-20 from the field and 11-for-13 at the line for his career-high 33 points. He just missed out on a double-double with nine boards and he added three assists. Finley stuffed the stat sheet with a career-high 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a steal. He hit 2-of-6 from deep. The Beavers were 25-of-59 from the field (42.4 percent), compared to Franklin's 26-of-50 (52 percent) from the field. Bluffton was outstanding at the line, hitting 22-of-25 (88 percent) and turned it over just seven times, six fewer miscues than the Grizzlies. Franklin struggled to a 13-of- 22 (59.1 percent) afternoon on free throws.
Bluffton has the week off for finals before Anderson comes to town on Saturday, Dec. 13, as part of a women's and men's doubleheader with the Ravens. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. in the Sommer Center.
-BEAVERS-