By: Ethan Stearns, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's basketball team dipped to 4-15 overall and 2-10 in the HCAC after they falling to Transylvania 67-43 in a home matchup on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. Transy moved above .500 as the Pioneers now stand 10-9 overall and 7-5 in the Heartland Conference.
Scoring was hard to come by in the first half as the Beavers managed just 20 points, compared to 33 counters for the Pioneers. Senior Marcus Bruns (Coldwater) hit from distance, sinking the only first-half three for his squad. Michael Stammen (Versailles) threw in four straight free throws en route to six points in the first stanza. Transylvania ended the half on a 8-4 run to take a 13-point lead into the break.
The second period saw the visiting team put even more distance on the scoreboard. The visitors tallied 34 points while Bluffton added 23 to its column. Stammen continued to get to the line, putting in another pair of freebies. Brady Wheeler (Lima/Shawnee) dialed in a make from deep at the 14:12 mark. Caden Slusher (Rockford/Parkway) was also able to connect with a trey of his own. Miguel Ringer (Cincinnati/Cincinnati Christian) planted his name on the scoring sheet, hitting from in close, however, Transylvania did what it needed to do to walk away with the 67-43 victory.
Wheeler was all over the court on defense, leading the home team with a career-high four takeaways while also scoring seven points. Bruns put in six tallies as well as leading the Bluffton unit with three helpers. Ringer hit 4-of-6 from the field for a team-best nine points. Stammen used his tenacity to once again top the Beavers in rebounds, pulling down six total.
Bluffton was not very efficient scoring the ball as the home team shot just 15-of-50 (30 percent) from the field, including only three total treys on 21 attempts (14.3 percent). The visiting team drained 29-of-65 (44.6 percent) with six triples on 22 attempts (27.3 percent). Transy won the battle of the boards (40-32) and in the paint (34-20).
Bluffton hits the road when the Beavers travel to Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, Feb. 1, to continue conference play. Bluffton looks to get back in the win column as tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Cincinnati.
-BEAVERS-
