By Jordan Marbaugh, sports information assistant

The Bluffton University men’s basketball team suffered an 82-54 loss at Hanover College on January 5, 2013. The Beavers stayed winless at 0-6 in the Heartland Conference (4-9 overall). Hanover improved to 4-2 in HCAC play and 7-6 on the season.

Hanover jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead before the Beavers answered with a 5-0 run at the 16:27 mark. Hanover responded, going up 17-7 at the 13:20 mark. The visitors scored six straight in the paint but Hanover used a 24-12 jag to make the score 41-25 at the half after a Michael Van Kleunen putback at the buzzer.

In the second half it was much more of the same as the Beavers were unable to get closer than 14 points the rest of the way. Hanover placed five players in double figures as they cruised to the 82-54 win.

The Beavers were led by junior bigs Dustin Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel) and Will Pope (Somerville/Preble Shawnee) as they each dropped in 12 markers. Pope hit 6-of-8 from the field, while Kinn was 6-for-9. Nate Chambers (Miamisburg) added seven points off the bench. Kinn just missed a double-double as he pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to go along with his two assists and two steals.

Bluffton hit 23-of-53 from the field (43.4 percent), including 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) outside the arc. The home team finished 31-of-63 (49.2 percent) and the Panthers knocked down 10-of-25 (40 percent) from distance. Hanover coughed it up just nine times while forcing Bluffton into 21 miscues. The Beavers had a slim 33-31 edge on the glass.

The men return to action when they head to Earlham on Wednesday, Jan. 9. The tip is set for 7:30 p.m. in Richmond, Ind.

Stats www.bluffton.edu/sports/mensbasketball/2013/01-05-mb.htm