Men’s basketball
KALAMAZOO, Mich.--The Bluffton University men's basketball team hit a pair of late threes before a Kegan Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Greenwood) buzzer-beater gave the Beavers a 63-62 win at Kalamazoo on Saturday, December 17. Bluffton upped its season mark to 2-6, while Kalamazoo fell to 1-8 on the season.
Bluffton hit 22-of-48 from the field (45.8 percent), including a solid 8-for-21 (38.1 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers pulled down six more rebounds (33-27), but the visitors also turned it over four more times (15-11).
Women’s basketball
Playing at home, the Bluffton University women's basketball team dropped a 75-69 decision to Anderson in overtime on Saturday, December 17. Anderson improved to 5-5 overall and 2-2 in the Heartland Conference, while Bluffton slipped to 5-3 and 1-3 in the HCAC.
Bluffton led by as many as five in period three and AU flipped the script with a five-point lead (56-51) in the fourth quarter before the Beavers outscored the visitors 12-7 down the stretch, pushing the contest into extra time.
Kayla Prigge (Hamler/Patrick Henry) led the way with 18 points on 4-of-4 shooting from deep in the first half. Morgan Smith (Arlington) dominated inside with 17 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Maddie Fitzpatrick (Mount Gilead) and Olivia Zender (Fostoria/Hopewell Louden) added 11 and 10 markers, respectively. Fitzpatrick ripped down 11 boards for her 3rd career double-double. It was the 10th career double-double for Smith.
Bluffton struggled to a paltry 27.5 percent afternoon from the field (22-of-80), including just 10-for-33 (30.3 percent) outside the arc. The Beavers pulled down nine more rebounds (60-51), but the home team also turned it over three more times (15-12). Anderson finished with a 30-14 spread in paint points.
The Beavers are back in the Sommer Center for a 6 p.m. tip-off with non-conference foe Adrian College on Tuesday, December 20.
