The Bluffton University men's basketball team lost a defensive tussle at Anderson, 52-42, on a frigid Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Bluffton fell to 5-11 overall and 1-7 in the Heartland Conference, while Anderson stayed in the HCAC hunt at 13-5 and 8-3 in the conference.
Five straight points by junior Marcus Bruns (Coldwater) gave Bluffton a 7-6 lead just over seven minutes into the game as the offenses struggled to put the biscuit in the basket. Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) dialed long distance and senior standout Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) followed with a jumper in the paint, making it 12-10 Beavers with 8:12 on the clock. However, Anderson used a 17-7 spurt late in the first stanza to forge a 27-19 halftime lead over Bluffton. Miguel Ringer (Cincinnati/Christian) hit from in close and sophomore Damian Davis (Bexley) buried a triple, keeping the Beavers within striking distance.
Bluffton played inspired ball coming out of the break, whittling the deficit to 32-30 following a Cosby trifecta as all five starters scored in the first seven minutes of period two. But that was as close as Bluffton could get thanks to 10 straight counters by the Ravens that made it 42-30 with just over eight minutes to play. Owen hit a three ball with 5:37 on the clock and Cosby's deuce at the 4:20 mark made it a six-point game, but Anderson capped off its 52-42 victory with three makes from the stripe.
Ringer led the way with 10 points and he was one of four Beavers with two steals. Bruns added nine markers, while Cosby, who finished with three assists, and Owen netted seven apiece. Bruns and Cosby both pulled down five rebounds.
Anderson finished with a decided 40-28 edge on the glass, helping the Ravens to a 30-16 advantage in paint points. The home team checked in with all 10 of the fast break points scored Wednesday night.
Bluffton hits the road again on Saturday, Jan. 29, when the Beavers head to Lexington, Ky., for a 4 p.m. showdown at Transylvania University.
