December 10, 2016

Stats

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Rose-Hulman men's basketball team capped off a doubleheader sweep of the Beavers with a 79-70 win on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. Bluffton slipped to 6-2 overall and 1-2 in the Heartland Conference, while RHIT improved to 3-3 and 2-1 in the HCAC.

Back-to-back three pointers by Austin Rohde (Shelby) and Josh Carey (Bellefontaine) capped a 13-2 spurt by the visitors, putting Bluffton up 34-19 with 2:47 to play in the first half. Justis Dowdy (Van Wert/Lincolnview) got to the rack with 27 seconds in the period, but Rose pulled within 11 (36-25) at the break.

The Engineers used the momentum from the end of the first half to go on a 16-4 run out of the gate in period two for a 41-40 lead with 15:26 to play. Rohde scored 10 of Bluffton's next 14 points to put the Beavers back on top (54-53) midway through the second half. His three-pointer with 6:12 on the clock made the score 59-57, but when Charlie Aimone answered with a deep ball for Rose, the Engineers took a lead they would never relinquish. RHIT outscored the visitors 11-3 over the final 3:07 to secure a 79-70 victory on a frigid December Saturday in Indiana.

Rohde led the Beavers with 23 points and he also pulled down seven rebounds. Sophomore Jared Wentling (Carey) just missed out on a double-double with 15 points and nine boards. Also getting it done for the Beavers was sophomore Justis Dowdy who hit 5-of-8 from the field for 10 points and seven caroms. Senior Josh Carey netted a career-high seven counters on 2-of-2 shooting.

Bluffton hit 29-of-66 from the field (43.9 percent), compared to 26-of-54 (48.1 percent) for the Engineers. Both team connected on five triples, but the Engineers made a living at the line, going 22-of-26 for 84.6 percent. RHIT pulled down nine more rebounds (40-31), but the Engineers also turned it over four more times (12-8).

The men will return to the hardwood next Saturday, Dec. 17, after finals are complete. Bluffton welcomes Franklin College at 4 p.m. following the women's matchup with the Grizzlies.

-BEAVERS-