November 27, 2016

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team capped off a great Thanksgiving break with a 64-56 win over Millsaps on Sunday, Nov. 27. A 4-0 mark out of the gate is the best start by a Bluffton men's hoops team since the 2011-12 squad opened up 5-0. The Majors dipped to 1-4 on the season.

A 13-2 lead to open the game proved to be the difference as Bluffton scored on six of its first seven possessions for an 11-point lead. All five starters marked the scoring column before the first media timeout slowed the onslaught. Two AUSTIN ROHDE (Shelby) makes from the foul line pushed the lead to 14 (31-17) with 6:05 to play in the half, before the Majors closed on a 12-2 run which trimmed the deficit to 33-29 at the break.

Rohde and MARTIN MAKSVYTIS (Dayton/Franklin-Monroe) combined for 12 points early in period two, helping Bluffton push its spread to 11 points with 13:35 to play. KEVIN CHRISTIE(Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) got in on the action with a deep triple before a hoop-and-harm from Maksvytis made the score 56-41 at the 7:59 mark.

The visitors on the scoreboard pulled to within 58-54, but Rohde stopped the Millsaps rally with a dunk at the 1:06 mark. ANDREW RENNER (Cairo/Bath) nailed down the victory with four makes from the charity stripe for a 64-56 final tally!

Topping the Bluffton scorers was Austin Rohde who dropped in 16 points to go along with four rebounds, three steals and two assists. JARED WENTLING (Carey) and Andrew Renner chipped in 10 points apiece. Wentling also pulled down a game-high seven boards while TREY ELCHERT (Jackson Center) dished out five assists.

Bluffton connected on 15-of-18 from the stripe (83.3 percent), while the Majors were 7-of-9 (77.8 percent). The Beavers turned it over just 11 times, compared to 18 miscues for Millsaps.

The Bluffton men are back in the Sommer Center on Wednesday, Nov. 30, when the Beavers welcome Kalamazoo College. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.

-BEAVERS-