By Mallory Kemper, sports information intern
The Bluffton University men's basketball team traveled to Pioneer country to face HCAC rival Transylvania on Saturday, January 22. A 19-of-33 afternoon at the line allowed Transylvania to slip away with a 67-65 HCAC win over the Beavers. Bluffton had its four-game winning streak snapped as the visitors fell to 12-5 overall and 5-5 in the Heartland Conference, while Transy improved to 12-5 and 6-4 in the HCAC.
Sophomore Josh Fisher (Rockford/Parkway) ignited the Bluffton offense as he drove to the hoop for two. The Pioneers responded with a Taylor Botkins layin and a bucket from Chris Owens which put Transylvania up 4-3 at the 17:48 mark.
The Beavers went on a 7-0 run with buckets by freshmen Will Pope (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) and Dustin Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel), putting Bluffton ahead by seven (14-7). The Pioneers rallied back with a layup from Botkins and a Nick Fudge basket, knotting the score at 17 with 5:21 left in the opening half.
The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the half as the Pioneers carried a slim 26-25 lead into the break.
Bluffton started the second period with a Brent Farley (Lima/Shawnee) layin and a bucket from Rob Luderman (Defiance/Ayersville). Transylvania responded with a trifecta by Barrett Meyer and Brandon Rash chip shot, making the score 33-32 in favor of Transylvania.
Transy took advantage of two triples from Meyer to make the score 46-41 with 13:31 left in the HCAC contest. Transylvania led by nine until Fisher made a triple and a layup to pull the Beavers within three, 55-52.
A pair of Nate Heckelman free throws tied the game at 59 with 3:35 to play. However, with 1:20 on the clock, Barrett Meyer drilled a jumper to put the home team up 66-64.
A Fisher foul sent Meyer to the charity stripe where he made 1-of-2 and then on the other end Mychal Hill (London/Jon. Alder) was sent to the line where he also made one out of two.
The Beavers had two chances to tie it in the final five ticks but they couldn't find a way to capitalize, sending Transylvania to a 67-65 victory which completed a season sweep of Bluffton.
Josh Fisher led the Beavers with 31 points, two shy of his career-high, on 10-of-15 from the field and 3-of-7 from behind the arc. He also added two steals. Luderman contributed eight points, two rebounds and two assists. Will Pope chipped in with seven rebounds and five points.
Bluffton hit 21-of-42 (50.0 percent) from the floor while the Pioneers made 22-of-48 (45.8 percent) from the field. Bluffton turned the ball over 18 times, compared to Transylvania's 12 miscues. Bluffton finished with a 31-26 advantage on the boards. The Beavers struggled at the line, going 19-of-33 (57.6 percent), while the home team converted 16-of-22 (72.7 percent).
The Bluffton University men's basketball team will travel to rival Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday, January 26, to face the Lions in another HCAC contest. The game is slated to tip at 7:30 p.m.
