By Martin Kluk, sports information intern
Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/mensbasketball/2012/01-21-mb.htm
The Bluffton University men pulled off a big win Saturday in a 62-56 victory over visiting Rose-Hulman. The Beavers upped their record to 11-6 (5-5 HCAC), while Rose-Hulman dipped to 13-4 (7-3 HCAC).
Senior Nate Heckelman (Norwalk) got things going right away for Bluffton as he went to the rack 12 seconds into the game. Great defense by the Beavers kept the visitors scoreless for the first six minutes as Bluffton built an 11-3 lead with 12:06 to go in the first half.
The Fightin' Engineers bounced back from the slow start, however, going on a 12-4 run to even the game back up at 15. Senior Brent Farley (Lima/Shawnee) answered back for Bluffton, converting a layup. With the first period winding down, Nick Lee (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue) drained a pair from the charity stripe, extending the lead to 29-25 at the break.
Rose-Hulman scored the first two buckets of the second half which tied the game at 29, but a Mychal Hill (London/Jon. Alder) make from behind the arc put the Beavers back on top, 32-29. Josh Johnson (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) knocked down a deuce with 8:57 remaining, stretching the lead to six at 49-43.
A trey by Jason Haslag trimmed the Rose deficit to 58-56 with 1:18 to play but with the intensity in Founders Hall cranked all the way up, Josh Fisher (Rockford/Parkway) intercepted a cross court pass and went coast-to-coast for a break-away layup that sealed the Bluffton victory.
Farley was the main man for Bluffton as he recorded his 10th career double-double with 11 points and 14 boards while also chipping in with two assists, two steals and a block. Bench scoring was also key in the game as Will Pope (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) and Dustin Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel) put up 14 and 12 points, respectively. Bluffton outscored the Engineers 40-20 in the paint.
The Beavers went 23-of-47 (48.9 percent) from the field, while Rose-Hulman connected on 22-of-49 (44.9 percent). From the foul line, the Beavers were 14-of-20 (70.0 percent) and the visitors hit just 5-of-11 (45.5 percent). Bluffton finished 2-of-8 from outside the arc (25.0 percent), compared to a solid 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) for Rose-Hulman. The Beavers committed only nine turnovers, two fewer than the Fightin' Engineers.
Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 25 when the Beavers travel to Earlham College. The contest is slated for 7:30 p.m.
