Men's Basketball Suffers First Loss of the Season

The Heidelberg College men’s basketball team, under the guidance of first-year head coach Anthony Gholson, dropped its first contest of the season today at Bluffton University. The Beavers posted an 82-61 win over the Berg to improve to 4-1 on the year, while Heidelberg stands at 3-1.
 
Bluffton scored first out of the gates and built a six-point lead, 12-6, with 12:48 on the clock in the first half. Heidelberg’s Josh Calver (Shelby, Ohio / Shelby) answered with a three-pointer on the ensuing trip down the court to cut the Berg’s deficit in half. The Berg could not get any closer as Bluffton’s Brent Farley converted on an old fashioned three-point play to push the lead back to six on the Beavers next possession. Bluffton extended its lead to as many as 13 points in the opening half, 32-19, but the Berg utilized an 11-5 run to close out the half to pull within seven at the break, 37-30.
 
Jim Smalley (Middleburg Heights, Ohio / Midpark) pulled the Berg within four points, 39-35, with a jumper just two minutes into the second half, but that would be as close as the Berg would get. Bluffton put together a 10-1 run midway through the second half to build an 18-point advantage, 59-41, and went on to hold on for the 82-61 victory.
 
For the game Bluffton connected on 24-of-52 shots for a 46.2 percent mark, while the Berg converted on 22-of-57 field goals for a 38.6 clip. The Berg held a slim 34-33 advantage on the glass.
 
Leading the way for the Berg was junior Travis Kinn (Alvada, Ohio / New Riegel) with a game-high 18 points, to go along with a team-best eight boards. Smalley added 12 points and pocketed four steals, while grabbing six rebounds, including five offensive. Rounding out three in double figures was Calver with 10 and three assists.
 
Bluffton’s Josh Eichar led three in double figures with 16 points and had a team-best eight rebounds.
 
Heidelberg returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 3 against Albion College in Tiffin. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Seiberling Gymnasium, on the campus of Heidelberg.
 
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