BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Bluffton University men's basketball team will return four starters when the Beavers attack the hardwood this season. COVID-19 and other injuries slowed Bluffton and snapped its string of four consecutive Heartland Conference tournament berths. Head Coach Guy Neal, who is just 12 victories away from 400 for his career, has more than doubled the wins of every other men's basketball coach in Bluffton history!
Although 80 percent of the starting lineup returns for 2022-23, there is a formidable hole to fill with Jameel Cosby gone following graduation. Cosby was one of just six players from the 10 Heartland Conference teams to be named First Team All-HCAC and he accomplished that feat in back-to-back seasons! The four-year starter at Bluffton led the HCAC with 20.6 PPG and his 7.4 RPG were 7th in the conference. A senior season that saw Cosby put up 453 points helped him jump all the way to 17th on the all-time scoring list (1,218) thanks to a pair of 30-point games last season.
Mike Ketner (Minster) started all 23 games for the Beavers in 2021-22. He averaged 6.5 PPG and drilled 28 triples last season. Fellow senior Marcus Bruns (Coldwater) put up 8.4 PPG and pulled down 5.4 RPG while converting 27-of-34 at the line (79.4 percent).
Transfer Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) made his Beaver debut last season and proved to be an integral part of Bluffton's rotation. He was deadly from outside the arc (24-of-54) while shooting 49.1 percent from the field (55-of-112). Senior Miguel Ringer (Cincinnati/Christian) took advantage of his deft touch and athleticism around the bucket, knocking down 65-of-106 for a red-hot 61.3 percent.
Point guard Michael Stammen (Versailles) moved into a starting slot as a sophomore and never looked back. He was nearly automatic at the line, hitting 34-of-38 (89.5 percent), while netting 8.3 PPG with 51 assists.
The Beavers welcome Denison University and former assistant coach DeVon Price to the Sommer Center on Friday, Nov. 11. Bluffton will be host the McDonald's Holiday Tournament on December 28-29. The regular season comes to a close on February 17, when the Beavers travel to rival Defiance College for a Friday night double feature with the women.
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