Takayla Gadberry, sports information alumna

BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Bluffton University men's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 66-61 decision to Heidelberg University on Wednesday, Nov. 16. The Beavers fell to 0-2 overall while Heidelberg improved to 2-1.

The Student Princes took an early 14-4 lead in the first half before JD Stokes (West Harrison, IN/Franklin County) bucketed a deuce followed by a three from Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, IN/Greenwood) which cut the deficit to six (16-9). Brady Wheeler (Lima/Shawnee) nailed another shot from deep, trimming the gap to 19-14.

A 6-0 run for Heidelberg gave the visitors a 25-14 lead before buckets by Stokes and Wheeler and a Nevin Robson (Kenton/Hardin Northern) triple pulled it back within two (25-23). Both teams went neck-and-neck offensively before the Student Princes pulled away with four straight points for a 35-27 lead going into the half.

The Beavers came out firing in the second half with seven straight markers to pull within just one point (35-34). Another back-and-forth offensive push for both teams, capped off by a Michael Stammen (Versailles) three, set up a 41-39 score with just over 13 minutes left in regulation. A 9-0 run for Heidelberg pushed the lead to 50-39, but the Beavers answered back with Stammen and Wheeler shots as Bluffton got within five (50-45). Owen dialed long distance to make it a one-point game (62-61) but it wouldn't be enough as Heidelberg sandwiched four free throws around a Bluffton miss, giving the visitors a 66-61 victory.

Owen and Wheeler led the offense with 12 points each. Robson and Stammen were one off their pace with 11 points apiece. Stokes tallied eight rebounds in the loss and Robson chipped in with seven boards.

Bluffton shot 21-of-54 (38.9 percent) from the field and 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) from outside the arc, compared to 24-of-61 (39.3 percent) and 6-of-20 (30 percent) for Heidelberg. Both teams were solid at the charity stripe with the Beavers nailing 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) and the Student Princes going 12-of-17 (70.6 percent). The victors pulled down three more boards (38-35), while Bluffton coughed up six more turnovers (14-8). Heidelberg also won the battle in the paint with 32 points, compared to just 16 for Bluffton. 

The men are back in action on Sunday, Nov. 20, when they travel to Hiram College for a matchup with former Bluffton assistant Taylor Roth. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. Go Beavers!       

-BEAVERS-