Beavers beat rival Defiance, take No. 5 Hanover down to the wire on Saturday
By Ben Risinger, SID
February 3, 2004
The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (9-10, 3-5 HCAC) beat rival Defiance College at home last Wednesday 75-66. On Saturday the Beavers faced No. 5 Hanover College to lead midway through the second half, but the Panthers were just too much at the end by defeating Bluffton 69-67. This Wednesday Bluffton will travel to Franklin College for a 7:30 pm start time. On Saturday Bluffton will be at home vs. Transylvania University. Tip off for the game is slated for 3 pm. Their will be an alumni game played at 12 noon with a junior varsity contest at 1:30 pm. Saturday, Feb. 7 is also Take A Kid to the Game Day. Any child age 14 and under will receive free admission with the purchase of an adult ticket. Log on to the BC sports website at www.bluffton.edu/sports for more information on either event taking place on Saturday.
Boyles named HCAC Player of the Week
Senior Brad Boyles was named player of the week in men’s basketball for his efforts against Defiance and Hanover. He was instrumental in both of the Beavers’ games last week. He scored 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, posted four rebounds and five assists in the win over Defiance. On Saturday against Hanover he threw in 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting and had four assists.
“Brad is very deserving of this recognition,” head coach Guy Neal said. “I thought his effort and focus were excellent in our two games last week against two teams whose defensive game plan was designed to specifically slow him down.”
Boyles currently leads Bluffton with 15.8 points per game (4th in HCAC) and is shooting 64.7 percent from the field for the season (1st in HCAC). He is currently ranked eighth in the country (Division III) in field goal percentage. The Beavers have now won three of their last four games.
BLUFFTON 75, DEFIANCE 66
BLUFFTON, OHIO – The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (9-9, 3-4 HCAC) defeated rival Defiance College (8-9, 2-5 HCAC) 75-66 on Wednesday night.
Bluffton College came out of the start with a fury as they dominated in the first half. The Beavers led by as many as 15 points, off of 71 percent shooting in the first period. Heading into the locker room the score was 40-28 in favor of Bluffton. In the second half Defiance rallied back to take the lead 54-51 at the 10:52 mark. The Beavers would not be outdone as they would come back to take the lead for good 68-66 off of a jumper by sophomore Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) with 2:08 left in the game.
The Beavers posted five players in double figures. Leading Bluffton was senior Brad Boyles (Berne, Ind./South Adams) with 16 points. Sophomore Bryan Yelley (Wheelersburg/Wheelersburg) led the team with six rebounds which tied his career high and sophomore Simeon Talley (Columbus/Centennial) threw in 12 points each. Scott Bergman and freshman Michael Anthony (Ohio City/Delphos St. John’s) had 10 apiece.
Bluffton killed Defiance on the boards with 31 rebounds to Defiance’s 17 (BC opponent season low). The Beavers shot 63 percent for the contest compared to Defiance at 43 percent. Bluffton also led the inside battle by scoring 28 points in the paint to Defiance’s 22 points.
No. 5 HANOVER 69, BLUFFTON 67
BLUFFTON, OHIO – The Bluffton College men’s basketball team (9-10, 3-5 HCAC) took the Hanover Panthers (18-1, 8-0 HCAC) down to the line but could not come out with the win on Saturday afternoon. Hanover finished on top 69-67.
The Panthers started the game with a 9-0 lead and led for the entire first half of play. The score at halftime would be 30-20 in favor of Hanover. Things swayed towards Bluffton in the middle of second half as they went on a 16-7 run to take the lead for the first time with 11:53 left in the game, 38-37. The Beavers then went up by as many as seven points at the 5:00 mark, 58-51. Hanover would not be stopped as they battled back to take the lead for good with 3:11 left to play. The Beavers fought hard until the last second when Scott Bergman (Elmore/Woodmore) hit a three-pointer with two seconds left for the final score. The Panthers pulled down key rebounds and were able to fend off the Beaver comeback. Hanover dominated inside with 32 points in the paint to Bluffton’s 14 points.
Leading Bluffton was senior Brad Boyles (Berne, Ind./South Adams) and freshman Michael Anthony (tied career high) with 19 points each. Sophomore Scott Bergman finished the Beaver double digits with 13 points and a team high five rebounds.
Bluffton and Hanover both shot 48 percent for the contest. Hanover narrowly won the rebound contest with 29 to the Beavers 28. Hurting the Beavers were turnovers as they committed 14 to Hanover’s eight. The Panthers then converted 20 points off of Bluffton turnovers.
Beavers in the Heartland Conference
TEAM STATISTICS
The Beavers currently rank first in assists (16.32 per game). Bluffton is 2nd in the league in field goal percentage at .485 percent. The team ranks second in rebounding defense by holding down 27.1 rebounds per game (515 total for year) and is third in rebounding margin by out rebounding opponents (+4.2) a game. The Beavers are second in assist/turnover ratio in the league at 1.12.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Senior Brad Boyles currently leads Bluffton in scoring this season and ranks 4th in the HCAC averaging 15.8 points per game. He also is the Beavers and the league’s most consistent shooter converting .647 percent of his field goals. He currently ranks 8th in the country in field goal percentage among NCAA Division III basketball. Sophomore Scott Bergman currently ranks 11th in the HCAC in scoring with 13.1 points per game (2nd on team). Bergman leads the Beavers in both 3-pointers made with 38 (7th in HCAC) and 3-point field goal percentage .413 (3rd in HCAC). He also ranks eighth in the league (leads Bluffton) in defensive rebounding, averaging 3.74 per game (71 for year). Sophomore Brett Mitchell is fourth in the conference in assists by averaging 2.80 per game. Simeon Talley leads the Beavers in assists with 48 and is tied for 7th in the HCAC in assists per game, averaging 2.53.
