The Bluffton University men's basketball team battled back from an early deficit, but Hanover College was too much for the Beavers down the stretch on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022. Hanover improved to 13-2 overall and 9-1 in the Heartland Conference following a 67-57 victory over Bluffton (5-9, 1-6 HCAC).
The Panthers jumped out to a 15-4 lead at the 12:17 mark before Michael Stammen (Versailles) just beat the shot clock with a from-the-hip triple in front of the Hanover bench, igniting a Bluffton spurt that saw the home team go to the break knotted at 29-29. Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) sandwiched a pair of triples around the Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) three-ball that pushed the senior over 1,000 points for his career!
Damian Davis (Bexley) hit from in close and Cosby nailed a triple before Stammen capped the first half scoring with his jumper in the paint.
Stammen and Cosby put Bluffton up 33-29 coming out of the break and it was still a four-point Bluffton lead when Cosby drove the key with 16:20 to play. Following a Mike Ketner (Minster) bomb at the 15:05 mark, Hanover used a 14-4 run to take a 52-44 lead midway through the second half. Hanover continued its efficient play, scoring a 67-57 victory that keeps the Panthers atop the HCAC standings with eight games to play.
Cosby led the Beavers with 18 points on the day he eclipsed 1,000 career points as a Beaver! Owen put up a career-best 14 points on a blistering 6-of-7 from the field. Stammen also netted double digits with 11 counters and he led the Beavers with five rebounds. Cosby added three assists and two steals.
Hanover ripped down 13 more rebounds (34-21) and bucketed 34 points in the paint. Both teams took care of the rock, combining for just 18 turnovers, with Bluffton committing only eight miscues.
Bluffton jumps right back into action on Monday, Jan. 24, when the Beavers welcome Earlham College for a non-conference tussle. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. in the Sommer Center.
