January 14, 2017

Stats

HANOVER, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's basketball team exchanged leads six times in the first half before Hanover opened a 41-33 spread at the half en route to a 77-66 victory in Collier Arena on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. Bluffton fell to 8-6 overall and 1-6 in the Heartland Conference with Hanover staying atop the HCAC at 7-1 (13-2 overall).

Back-to-back jumpers by Austin Rohde (Shelby) on the heels of a Martin Maksvytis (Dayton/Franklin-Monroe) trifecta put Bluffton up 13-6 less than five minutes into the contest. A 12-2 Panther spurt made the score 18-15 before a Rohde laying and Kevin Christie (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) long ball gave the visitors a 22-18 edge at the 8:07 mark. Hanover turned the tide for good with a 23-11 jag over the final eight minutes as the home team took a 41-33 advantage into the half.

Five straight Adam Hopkins (Wellington/Keystone) markers followed by an Andrew Hunter (Arlington) triple helped Bluffton pull within two (47-45) at the 13:45 mark. A 17-4 Hanover run sealed the outcome as the Panthers opened a 64-49 cushion less than four minutes later. The home team put it on cruise control, capping off its seventh HCAC victory by a score of 77-66.

Kevin Christie notched a career-high 14 points on 3-of-6 from distance and he dished out three assists. Senior captain Trey Elchert (Jackson Center) doled out a game-high five dimes for the Beavers to go along with his nine markers. Rohde netted 12 counters and sophomore post Justis Dowdy (Van Wert/Lincolnview) ripped down a game-high nine boards. Hopkins and Dowdy chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.

Both teams hit over 50 percent from the field with Bluffton knocking down 27-of-53 and Hanover connecting on 28-of-54. The Panthers were 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) on triples while Bluffton finished 5-of-17 (29.4 percent). Bluffton pulled down two more rebounds (27-25) but the visitors also turned it over six more times (16-10).

Bluffton will be back in action against rival Defiance College on Wednesday, Jan. 18, when the Beavers welcome the Yellow Jackets to the Sommer Center. Tip time is slated for approximately 8 p.m. following the women's clash.

-BEAVERS-