February 1, 2017
By: Jared Sleutz, sports information assistant

Stats

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. -  The Bluffton hit the road for a visit with the Manchester University Spartans on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Bluffton fell by a 74-66 score in overtime, slipping to 4-9 in the HCAC (11-9 overall), while the Spartans improved to 5-8 in the Heartland (7-13 overall).

With the score 51-50 Bluffton and four minutes to play, junior KEVIN CHRISTIE (Miamisburg/Bishop Fenwick) drained a triple, giving the Beavers a four-point lead. Manchester answered back with a deuce and two free throws, knotting the score at 54-54 with 1:29 left in the game.

Senior AUSTIN ROHDE (Shelby) split a pair of freebies with a minute left in the game. Manchester knocked down two free throws to put the home team up 56-55 before Rohde again connected on one of two charity tosses, tying the game with 20 seconds to play. Manchester would miss the potential game winning three, sending the contest to overtime in Indiana.

Bluffton couldn’t find a bucket until senior TREY ELCHERT (Jackson Center) dialed long distance with 1:49 left in overtime, but the Spartans still led 64-59. Bluffton ran out of time as the final whistle blew on Manchester's 74-66 overtime victory.

Bluffton was led by Rohde with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists. JARED WENTLING (Carey) chipped in with 17 points and eight rebounds while shooting 8-of-14 from the field. Elchert finished with 16 points, eight assists and a career-high tying 4-of-8 from downtown. Kevin Christie and ADAM HOPKINS (Wellington/Keystone) both finished with six points, rounding out the scoring for Bluffton.

Bluffton hit 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) from the field, while Manchester knocked down 26-for-53 (49.1 percent) from the field. The Spartans won the rebounding battle, 35-31, and turned the ball over two fewer times (12) then the Beavers (14). Bluffton went 8-of-26 (30.8 percent) from beyond the arc as Manchester finished 3-of-9 (33.3 percent) on triples.

Bluffton hosts Transylvania University on Alumni Day this Saturday, Feb. 4. Transylvania is 8-5 in the HCAC (7-13 overall). Tip-off is set for 1 PM.

-BEAVERS-