February 2, 2015

BLUFFTON, Ohio - Bluffton University junior center Thayne Recker (Arlington) set the HCAC single-game scoring record in the Beavers’ 103-102 triple overtime win over Hanover on Saturday and he has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the third time this season. 

The junior standout punished Hanover with 53 points, on 14-of-24 shooting, and added a career-high 15 rebounds in the win over the Panthers, breaking the HCAC record held by Manchester’s Burt Paddock since January of 1996. Recker also set new HCAC and Bluffton records for free throws made (25) and free throws attempted (28) in the contest. His 53 markers topped Scott Bergman's school mark of 50 set against Anderson in January of 2005.

The record-setting performance is also the highest point total by any NCAA Division III player this season. Earlier in the week, Recker scored 19 points with 12 rebounds in a 73-51 loss to rival Defiance. For the week, Recker averaged 36.0 points and 13.5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 53.7 percent from the field. 

Bluffton (9-10, 5-7 HCAC) is slated to host Manchester and Franklin this week. The Spartans and Beavers hook up at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.

-BEAVERS-