By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/mensbasketball/2012/01-07-mb.htm

The Bluffton University men led by as many as eight points in the first half, but a 51-31 scoring plunge by the visitors during the final 21 minutes sent Hanover to a 75-61 victory over the Beavers on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. Bluffton fell to 8-5 overall and 2-4 in the Heartland Conference, while the Panthers improved to 9-3 and 5-1 in the HCAC.

Bluffton took an early 3-2 lead thanks to a Mychal Hill (London/Jonathan Alder) three-pointer with the assist coming from fellow senior Nick Lee (Mt. Blanchard/Vanlue). Hanover re-took the lead before the Beavers tied the game (7-7) at the 15:32 mark with a layup by sophomore Will Pope (Camden/Preble Shawnee).

The Beavers went up by three after sophomore Dustin Kinn (Alvada/New Riegel) put in a layup and two foul shots at the 11:52 mark. Two free throws by Hill pushed Bluffton up by eight at the 3:57 mark. Hanover responded late in the opening stanza, trimming the deficit to just one at the break, 30-29.

For the first six minutes of the half the lead went back-and-forth, including a pair of ties. The Beavers took the lead by one when senior Nate Heckelman (Norwalk) converted a fast break layup from Mychal Hill. Hanover answered with eight straight markers to take control once again. Bluffton was unable to get closer than seven points during the final five minutes as Hanover capped the game with nine makes at the stripe en route to a 75-61 victory.

Hill led the Beavers with 17 points while Kinn and Heckelman contributed 10 points apiece. Senior Brent Farley (Lima/Shawnee) paced the Beavers with 11 boards. Pope also pulled down eight rebounds. Hanover standout Mike Case muscled his way to 28 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and 10-for-13 at the line.

The Beavers went 20-of-50 (40.0 percent) from the field, while Hanover connected on 21-of-47 (44.7 percent) from the field. From the foul line the Beavers were 19-of-23 (82.6 percent) and Hanover hit 28-of-35 (80.0 percent). Bluffton struggled from distance, knocking down just 2-of-17 shots from outside the arc (11.8 percent). The Beavers committed 10 turnovers, two more than Hanover. The visitors finished with a slim 32-30 edge on the glass.

Bluffton returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 11 when the Beavers welcome Earlham College to Founders Hall. The contest is slated for 7:30 p.m.