The Beavers fell 72-61 to the Transylvania University Pioneers on Saturday, Dec. 15, after a 79 percent second half field goal percentage propelled the visitors to a 72-61 victory.
The Beavers, attempting to repeat last year’s home victory over the Pioneers, stormed out to a 13-point lead after Dustin Kinn (New Reigal) netted eight points in the first 10 minutes of the game.
A Brock Homier (Continental) triple extended the Beaver lead to 22-11 at the 7:51 mark, and Josh Fisher (Rockford/Parkway) answered a Transy bucket with a layup and a three on consecutive trips down the floor, pushing the Beaver advantage to 27-14 with 4:08 remaining in the half.
A Tate Cox three-pointer at the 2:54 mark in the first half sparked a 19-2 Pioneer run into the second half that was capped by a pair of Parker Stansberry three’s sandwiched around an Ethan Spurlin jumper just one minute into the second stanza.
Spurlin's deuce gave the visitors their first lead, 30-29, since the 19:04 mark in the first half and the Pioneers would never look back.
After a Kinn layup and free throw pulled the Beavers back to within one, Transy lit up the scoreboard, going ahead by as many as 19, despite Bluffton baskets from Josh Johnson (Ottawa-Glandorf), Thayne Recker (Arlington) and Billy Taflinger (Lima/Central Catholic).
Two free throws from Bluffton junior Jon Fowler (Cincinnati/St. Xavier) made it 70-61 with a little over one minute left, but Spurlin sealed the deal with another layup, his 13th and 14th points of the game, to make it 72-61.
Kinn led the Beavers with 11 points, including a 5-of-5 performance from the free throw line. Will Pope (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) tallied eight points and six rebounds, while Fisher added seven points and four boards.
Johnson chipped in with nine points and freshman Nate Chambers (Miamisburg) finished with seven.
The Beavers finished the night 22-of-44 from the field for a solid 50 percent, however, Transy's blistering 19-of-24 in the second half was the difference as the Pioneers were 27-of-48 (56.3 percent) for the game.
Bluffton out-rebounded Transy, 27-21, but committed five more turnovers (12-7) than the Pioneers.
Bluffton will be back at home on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. when they host Indiana University-Kokomo in the Sommer Center.
