By: Takayla Gadberry, sports information assistant
ANDERSON, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team hit the road to Anderson University on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020. Despite constant lead changes, the Beavers were able to notch a 63-60 victory over the Ravens. Bluffton improved to 12-9 (8-6 HCAC), while Anderson slipped to 10-11 (7-7 HCAC).
The Ravens netted the first bucket of the game, but Zeddie Pollock (Mogodore) answered back with a triple to give Bluffton an early 3-2 lead. Two layups from Isaiah Taylor (Yellow Springs) pushed the Beaver lead to 7-5. Anderson tied it back up before a fastbreak from Dezman Brown (Elyria) put the good guys back up 9-7. The lead would change again but three straight buckets from Taylor followed by a Pollock deuce knotted it up before another fastbreak layin from Carter Kinnaird (Lewis Center/Olentangy) gave the Beavers a 19-17 lead. Anderson went ahead, but two more shots from outside the arc by Pollock and Kinnaird along with a Brown jumper had Bluffton down by two (33-31) at the half.
The Ravens pushed their lead to six early in the second half before a layin from Taylor made the score 37-33. A deuce and trifecta from Andrew Renner (Cairo/Bath) and a Brown triple tied the score up at 41 apiece. A 10-4 run from Anderson pushed their lead to six (51-45) before two freebies from Renner and a Brown triple cut the Beaver deficit to just one (51-50). An 11-7 run from Bluffton pushed their lead to 63-58. The Ravens got to the rack with one second left, but it wasn't enough as the Beavers would walk away with the 63-60 victory.
With only five Beavers scoring points, Taylor led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds. Pollock was close behind, tallying 13 markers. Rounding out the Bluffton offense was Renner, Brown and Kinnaird, all with 12 points apiece. Kinnaird's 12 markers were a career high as the senior was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, including both triple tries! Brown and Renner also pulled down four boards apiece.
Bluffton netted 26-of-57 (45.6 percent) field goals and 8-of-21 (38.1 percent) from deep. Anderson connected on 22-of-44 (50 percent) shots, including 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers had a quiet day at the charity stripe with just four shots, of which they hit three (75 percent), compared to the Ravens 9-of-11 (81.8 percent). Anderson pulled down five more boards (30-25) but also turned the ball over nine more times (20-11).
The men are back in action on Wednesday, Feb 12, when they again hit the road to Indiana for a matchup with Manchester University. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. Go Beavers!
-BEAVERS-