By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team slipped to 4-14 overall and 2-9 in the Heartland Conference after falling 85-78 following an exciting double-overtime matchup in Sommer Center against Anderson University on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. HCAC-heavyweight Anderson University improved to 12-6 on the season and 10-1 to remain at the top of the conference.
Bluffton came ready to play, shooting the three-ball a scorching 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) en route to a 38-30 lead when the teams headed to locker rooms at halftime. Brady Wheeler (Lima/Shawnee) knocked drilled four of his team's seven triples in the opening stanza which contributed to a magnificent 20-point first half scoring performance. Fellow freshman Nevin Robson (Kenton/Hardin Northern) returned from injury, adding in a trifecta of his own at the 9:52 mark. The Beavers used their sharp shooting from deep to head into the break with an eight-point lead.
Anderson kicked off the second stanza with a 14-6 run, knotting the game up at 44 with 12 minutes left in regulation. The two teams kept battling, exchanging buckets before Anderson jumped out to a six-point lead. Michael Stammen (Versailles) hit a trey to make it a three-point game (52-49) with six minutes left. Anderson drained a pair of freebies for a three-point advantage with under a minute left in the game. A huge triple from Cam Rogers (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Christian) in front of the Bluffton bench tied the game up at 59 apiece as regulation ended and the duel went into overtime!
The contest stayed very close throughout the first overtime period. Marcus Bruns (Coldwater) got to the rack after an offensive rebound. Stammen and Rodgers continued their clutch performances as Stammen converted a mid-range jumper and Rodgers again dialed long distance. The most exciting play of the game came when Stammen banked in a leaning three-ball from half court as time expired to send the game into yet another extra session!
Anderson pulled away as the Beavers ran out of gas in the second overtime period. Freshman JD Stokes (West Harrison/Franklin County) converted a layup after an aggressive offensive rebound, but the Ravens closed out the final five minutes on a 14-7 run, going home with a hard-fought 85-78 victory which was a far cry from their 93-50 win in Indiana on New Year's Eve.
Wheeler led the team in scoring with 24 tallies (20 in the first half). Stammen (15), Rogers (14), and Robson (10) were also able to score in double digits. Rogers stuffed the stat sheet with a handful of career highs. He finished with six boards, two assists, two steals, a block and the junior was a perfect 4-of-4 from distance! The 14 points also equaled his career best. Wheeler and Stammen both had five helpers and Stammen pulled down a team and career-high nine rebounds.
The home squad played well offensively on Thursday night, hitting 30-of-72 (41.7 percent) from the field. The Beavers were also able to find their rhythm from beyond the arc, scorching the nets with a 12-of-24 (50 percent) effort. Anderson finished 28-of-69 (40.6 percent) from the field and 15-for-36 (41.7 percent) from the deep. The Ravens capitalized on 14 Bluffton turnovers, scoring 27 fast-break points.
Bluffton stays in Allen County as the Beavers get only one day to prepare for Transylvania on Saturday, Jan. 28. The men's squad kicks off a doubleheader with the women as tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
