The Bluffton University men's basketball team battled Mount St. Joseph for 40 minutes, but the Beavers came up just short in a 64-59 loss on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2022. Bluffton fell to 5-13 and 1-9 in the Heartland Conference, while the Lions improved to 8-11 and 4-8 in the HCAC.

Sophomore Michael Stammen (Versailles) hit a quick layup, putting Bluffton up 2-0 just 15 seconds into the game when Miguel Ringer (Cincinnati/Christian) found him under the hoop. The lead changed hands seven times in the first 10:30 before Devin Young knocked down a jumper at the 9:41 mark that gave MSJ the upper hand for good. He and David Luers combined for 11 points over the next four minutes as the Lions opened a 31-23 lead at the 5:54 mark.

The Beavers managed just eight counters over the final 10:04 of the first half as MSJ took a 35-29 lead at the break. Jameel Cosby (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) hit 4-of-9 from the field for 11 points in the opening stanza, while Nolan Finch (Toledo/Cardinal Stritch) pulled down three rebounds in six minutes off the bench.

Bluffton continued to hang around with the Mount and pulled within five (49-44) when Cosby got to the rack at the 11:17 mark. The Lions pushed it back to 10 three minutes later, but the Beavers would not go away. Marcus Bruns (Coldwater) followed a Stammen make with a layup that helped the home team get it down to four points (59-55) with two and a half minutes to play.

Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) drained a jumper in the paint with 1:03 on the clock, pulling Bluffton back within four, but three late misses and three MSJ freebies made the score 64-57 before Cosby scored at the buzzer.

Cosby led all scorers with 24 points and he also pulled down five rebounds. Stammen went 3-of-5 from the field and 4-for-4 at the line for 10 counters. Bruns chipped in with five boards and Cosby handed out three assists.

Bluffton hit a respectable 23-of-47 from the field (48.9 percent), but just 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers also knocked down 12-of-17 at the line. Both teams finished with 29 rebounds and they combined for only 14 turnovers with eight by the Beavers.

The Beavers are slated for a trip to Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Feb. 5. Tip-off is 3 p.m. in Hulbert Arena following the women's heavyweight matchup with the Engineers.