January 10, 2018
By: Colton Steiner, sports information assistant

Stats

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men’s basketball team faced off against the other purple school, Defiance College, in a conference battle at home on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The Beavers went up by double digits near the end of the first half and didn’t look back as they swatted the Yellow Jackets, 75-47, to improve to 6-8 (3-4 HCAC) on the season. DC fell to 3-11 and 2-5 in the conference.

The contest was tight as neither team held a lead over four for the first 14 minutes. Bluffton finally got on a roll at the 5:45 mark as they fashioned a 12-0 run that was capped off with a three by freshman DEZMAN BROWN (Elyria) which gave the home team a 29-18 advantage. Defiance stayed within striking distance, trimming the deficit to 30-22 as the teams went into the break.

With the rivals trading buckets to start the second half, ANDREW RENNER (Cairo/Bath) dialed long distance to start the Beavers on a 14-0 run over a span of five minutes for a 52-31 cushion. Defiance hit a pair of free throws but the home team would answer with a triple from ANDREW HUNTER (Arlington) at the 6:21 mark which put the Beavers up by a comfortable 61-39 margin. Defiance was unable to score over the final 2:56 as Bluffton capped the game with a 10-spurt en route to the 75-47 victory over the Yellow Jackets.

Leading the charge for the Beavers was KEVIN CHRISTIE (Dayton/Bishop Fenwick) who dropped a game-high 18 points to go along with his six assists and six rebounds. Also contributing for Bluffton was Andrew Hunter who tallied 12 and dished out four dimes while AARON RICH (Greensville) added 11 counters and six rebounds. Brown and Renner made it five in double figures with 10 points apiece. Sophomore Isaiah Taylor (Yellow Springs) tied his career high with 11 boards.

The Beavers were able to take advantage of the Yellow Jackets' struggles from the field (18-of-60 for 30 percent) as Bluffton shot 42.8 percent (29-of-68) from the floor. Bluffton was all over the glass, outrebounding Defiance 51-37. The Beavers dominated the paint as they outscored the Yellow Jackets 38-18 in the key.

Next up for Bluffton will be a road contest against the Fightin’ Engineers of Rose-Hulman. Tipoff in Terre Haute, Ind. is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13.

-BEAVERS-