February 3, 2017
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men are coming off a busy stretch of three games in five days thanks to a December ice storm that pushed Franklin into a rare Monday night trip to the Sommer Center. Following a well-deserved off day on Thursday, the Beavers will get back to work with an Alumni Day clash against Transylvania on Saturday before making the short trek to rival Defiance College on Wednesday, Feb. 8 (8 PM).
Monday night's makeup game with Franklin saw the tide turn more than once, but the Beavers had the last laugh following a 30-11 spurt that propelled Bluffton to a 77-64 victory over the Grizzlies. AUSTIN ROHDE (Shelby) drilled his first four shots from distance on the way to a game-high 30 counters Monday as the Beavers secured their sixth straight victory over Franklin.
Bluffton welcomes Transylvania for a 1 PM clash on Saturday after the Alumni Day game in the Sommer Center. The Pioneers hold a 23-9 edge in the all-time series, but the Beavers have won four of the past six meetings. Transy dominated the Lexington contest, 83-60, back in December when the teams met the first time this season. The Pioneers had won 11 straight prior to a narrow 87-84 loss to HCAC-heavyweight Anderson this past Saturday.
A trip to long-time rival Defiance highlights the HCAC schedule next Wednesday night. The Beavers will tip at 8 PM in the Weaner Center following the Bluffton's huge matchup with the Yellow Jacket women at 6 PM. Defiance holds a marked 132-67 advantage in the all-time series, including six victories in the past eight meetings. Bluffton took down Defiance 58-55 less than three weeks ago when the bitter rivals rocked the Sommer Center!
Senior AUSTIN ROHDE (Shelby) is currently 19th on the all-time scoring list with 1,152 markers. He is 3rd in the HCAC with 19.3 PPG on 138-of-283 shooting from the field (48.8 percent). Rohde is also 6th in the conference in free throw percentage at 84.8 percent.
Sophomore JARED WENTLING (Carey) is dumping in 14.0 PPG to go along with his team-high 7.5 RPG (2nd in the HCAC). Second in the Heartland with 4.6 assists per game is senior captain TREY ELCHERT (Jackson Center) who has hit 32-of-36 (88.9 percent) from the line and is scoring 7.7 PPG.
Senior ADAM HOPKINS (Wellington/Keystone) and sophomore JUSTIS DOWDY (Van Wert/Lincolnview) have given the Beavers solid minutes off the bench in the post, combining for 75-of-119 from the field (63.0 FG percentage). Making the most of his opportunity since joining the starting lineup is junior KEVIN CHRISTIE (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) who has netted at least eight counters in 11 of the last 12 games, including a career-high 15 in Monday's win over Franklin.
Bluffton is 3rd in the Heartland Conference in scoring defense at 72.5 PPG and the Beavers 10.6 turnovers per game is 2nd in the HCAC. Their 15.0 assists per game top the conference. Bluffton is currently 5th in the HCAC from the free throw line, knocking down 254-of-349 for 72.8 percent on charity tosses.
-BEAVERS-