By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Despite another big night from Thayne Recker (Arlington), the Bluffton University men’s basketball team fell to host North Central College on Saturday, Nov. 22, by a final of 77-61. Recker scored 24 points on 9-for-10 shooting while adding five boards to follow up his 25-point, 11-rebound performance in Friday’s loss. The Beavers fell to 1-2 while the Cardinals are now 2-0 early in the season.
The Beavers jumped to an early 8-4 advantage, including four early markers for Recker. The Cardinals took the lead following an 8-0 run to go up 12-8 and they never trailed again. The Cardinals extended the lead to as many as nine points midway through the half. The lead was eight when a deep ball from Blake Green (Delta) and a layin by Michael Blunk (Arlington) pulled Bluffton back within three points, before North Central made it 33-26 at the break.
Following a basket from Recker to open the second stanza, the home team went on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to push its lead to double digits at 43-30. The Beavers responded with three straight buckets from Recker, Austin Rohde (Shelby), and Ryan Ebbeskotte (Delphos/Jefferson) to get within seven. The North Central lead hovered around single digits until eight minutes remained in the contest when a 10-3 Cardinal spurt buried the Beavers, culminating in the 77-61 defeat.
The Cardinals controlled many stat categories in the victory, including shooting 53.2 percent (25-for-47) from the floor and 43.8 percent (7-for-16) from beyond the arc, compared to Bluffton’s 42.3 percent (22-for-53) and 23.8 percent (5-for-21), respectively. North Central also out-rebounded the Beavers 32-28. Each team committed 12 turnovers in the contest.
Recker, who was named to Chicago Marriott All-Tournament Team, paced the Beavers with his 24 points and five rebounds. Blake Green, Austin Rhode, and Billy Taflinger (Lima/Central Catholic) finished with seven points apiece. Charles Rosenberg led the Cardinals with 23 points, six rebounds and five dimes. Kevin Honn chipped in 18, while Erwin Henry, Jayme Moten and JACK BURCHETT scored 10 points apiece. Burchett added 11 boards for the victors.
The Beavers will return to action on the night before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. when they welcome Ohio Midwestern to the Sommer Center. Come support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
