By: Griffin Kuras, sports information assistant

Stats

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men welcomed Rose-Hulman for a Heartland Conference bout on Saturday, Jan. 3, in the first game of 2015. The Engineers stifled the Beavers in a hard fought game, 62-53, using height to their advantage, getting 38 of their points on the inside. The Beavers fell to 6-5 with a 2-2 mark in the HCAC, while the Engineers improved to 7-4 overall, including 3-1 in conference play. 

The game started in a heated competition as the teams traded blows all the way through the first 13 minutes. With 7:07 left to play in the first half the game was locked up at 21 apiece. Bluffton's struggles on offense were evident as the home team managed just three more points before the half ended, as the Engineers went on a 7-0 spurt, making it 28-21 before Matt Loesing drove to the rack for a 30-24 Rose advantage at the break.

The Beavers came out in the second half slowly, allowing the Engineers lead to go up by 11 points before clawing back to make it a one-point deficit with 7:49 to play. The home team looked to Ryan Ebbeskotte (Delphos/Jefferson) and Austin Rohde (Shelby) for the bulk of their points as they slowly tried to erase the deficit. However, the Beavers fell short as they played from behind the entire second half. 

Ebbeskotte finished the game with 14 points, two rebounds and three assists. Rohde set a new career high with 14 points and he added two rebounds. Both players were able to put up solid numbers from the line, combining to go 8-of-10 on the night. Thayne Recker (Arlington) hauled in six boards but went just 2-of-7 against the taller interior players from Rose-Hulman. 

The Beavers take the court next against Heartland Conference foe Mount St. Joseph at home. Tip off is set for 7:30 p.m. in the Sommer Center on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Bluffton will look to get back to its winning ways with the student section fired up following Christmas break.

-BEAVERS-