January 28, 2017
By: Jared Sleutz, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men hosted Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Jan. 28, and fell by a score of 78-62. Rose-Hulman took the lead for good late in the opening stanza and never looked back as they rolled to a 78-62 victory. The victorious Engineers improved to 7-5 in the HCAC (9-10 overall), while Bluffton fell to 3-8 in the HCAC (10-8 overall).
Senior AUSTIN ROHDE (Shelby) scored four quick points for Bluffton with a jumper in the key and then a pair of free throws. Rose-Hulman answered back with consecutive layups to tie the score at four apiece. Back-to-back turnovers by the home team helped Rose to an 11-4 edge at the 15:29 mark as the Engineers took a lead they would never relinquish.
Rohde lead the home team with 12 points, going 5-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 at the line. KEVIN CHRISTIE (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) added 11 points and five assists. Senior captain TREY ELCHERT (Jackson Center), playing in front of his Bluffton Elementary first glade class, netted eight points, handed out a team-high six assists and pulled down a career-high five rebounds. Sophomore JARED WENTLING (Carey) also chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds, knocking down 4-of-6 from the field.
Bluffton struggled from distance, hitting 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) while the visiting Engineers were 6-of-13 (46.2 percent). The Beavers lost the rebounding battle, 33-24. The combatants combined for a total of just 16 turnovers (eight apiece). Bluffton connected on 24-of-53 from the field (45.3 percent), while the Engineers went 33-for-59 (55.9 percent).
The Beavers jump right back into action with a rare Monday night Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference showdown against Franklin College. Tip-off in the Sommer Center is slated for 7 p.m. Come out and support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
