KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team hit a pair of late threes before a Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) buzzer-beater gave the Beavers a 63-62 win at Kalamazoo on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Bluffton upped its season mark to 2-6, while Kalamazoo fell to 1-8 on the season.

Owen took the inbounds pass with seven ticks remaining, fumbled, recovered and calmly sank the game-winner with three tenths of a second on the clock, sending the visitors to their second win of the season. Triples by Michael Stammen (Versailles) and Brady Wheeler over the final 2:13 set the stage for Owen's game-winner!

Bluffton 8-2 before a 10-2 Beaver spurt put the visitors up 12-10 with 11:54 on the clock. Connor Martin (Holland/Springfield) got free for a pair of deuces, while Owen and Ryan Rose (Tipp City/Bethel) hit from distance. A Nevin Robson (Kenton/Hardin Northern) layin and four Stammen freebies kept Bluffton within striking range (30-22) at the break.

The Hornets opened a 36-28 lead with 16:12 to play, but triples by Owen, Stammen, Rose and Brady Wheeler (Lima/Shawnee) made it 42-39 Bluffton less than three minutes later. The Beavers continued to push the issue, going up 48-43 when Stammen got to the rack.

Missed free throws kept Kalamazoo in the game and when Bobby Samples dialed long distance with 2:44 to play, the Hornets led by three. Stammen and Wheeler did their thing from outside the arc and Owen cashed in, sending Bluffton to its 63-62 win on Saturday afternoon.

Stammen hit 5-of-11 from the field and 8-for-10 at the stripe en route to a game-high 20 points. Owen added a dozen markers and Martin checked in with a career-high 10 points. Martin's eight boards were also a career best. Stammen dished out four assists and Wheeler picked up three steals.

Bluffton hit 22-of-48 from the field (45.8 percent), including a solid 8-for-21 (38.1 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers pulled down six more rebounds (33-27), but the visitors also turned it over four more times (15-11).

The Beavers will now look forward to their Christmas gift exchange before the McDonald's of Bluffton Holiday Tournament kicks off with a 5 p.m. matchup against Miami-Hamilton. 

-BEAVERS-