By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men’s basketball team earned a pre-Thanksgiving victory on Wednesday, Nov. 26, as they defeated the Ohio Midwestern College Rams by a 75-63 count. The Beavers took advantage of another monster game from junior Thayne Recker (Arlington) who tied his career high with 28 points. It was Recker’s third straight game scoring 24 points or more early in the season. The Beavers improved to 2-2 while the Rams dropped to 0-5.
The home team was able to get out to a quick 21-12 lead in the first 10 minutes of the contest, including six tallies by Recker along with a couple of three-balls from senior Zach Rumbaugh (Lima/Senior). The Rams battled back, going on a 16-7 spurt to tie the game at 28 with 3:36 remaining in the half. Bluffton rattled off a 12-0 run, including three straight buckets from Recker and two more from sophomore Billy Taflinger (Lima/Central Catholic) for a 40-30 lead at the break.
Bluffton pushed the led to 15 on a deep shot by Trey Elchert (Jackson Center) early in the second stanza. A 10-2 Ram run pulled Ohio Midwestern back to within seven points at the 7:58 mark. A three-pointer from Josh Woodrich (Navarre/Central Christian) extended the Beaver lead back to double-digits en route to the 75-63 victory.
Bluffton shot a stunning 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the floor and 44.4 percent (8-for-18) from beyond the arc, while Ohio Midwestern hit just 44.6 percent (25-of-56) from the floor and 27.3 percent (3-of-11) from deep. The Beavers won the battle on the boards, 34-25, but struggled with 17 turnovers on the night.
The Beavers were led by Recker, who scored 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting while adding six boards and a career-best five assists. Freshman Joshua Woodrich chipped in a career-high 13 tallies and six rebounds, including 3-of-5 shooting on triples, while Billy Taflinger added 11 points, three boards and three dimes. Ryan Ebbeskotte (Delphos/Jefferson) ended the night with five points and he led the Beavers in rebounds and assists with seven each. The seven rebounds established a new career high for the senior captain. Ohio Midwestern had three in double figures, with Patrick White dropping in 20 points to go along with his three steals. Brennan Gross chipped in with 16 and Derray Johnson finished with 12 points and six assists.
The Beavers will begin HCAC play next Wednesday, Dec. 3, as they head to Richmond, Ind., to take on the Quakers of Earlham College. Tip time is slated for 7:30 p.m. Following their trip to Franklin on December 6, the Beavers will finally return home on Saturday, Dec. 13, to take on the Anderson University Ravens in a game that tips at 4 p.m. Come support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
