BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Kalamazoo College men's basketball team was defeated by the Bluffton University Beavers 76-70 Wednesday night.
A Nicholas Olmeda free throw gave the Hornets a 30-18 lead with 8:15 remaining in the first half, but Bluffton went on a 17-5 run to close out the half and take a 41-35 lead.
Olmeda's three-pointer with 13:00 left in the game regained the lead for the Hornets at 51-50. The two teams then swapped the lead back and forth until the Beavers seized it back for good, 63-62, with 6:37 remaining.
Three Ty Horky free throws cut the lead to four at 73-69 with 33 seconds left, but that was as close as the Hornets could get.
Kalamazoo (2-3) had five players score in double digits with Horky leading the way with 15 points. DJ Courtney added 12 points, Lukas Broadsword and Josh Decker 11 apiece, and Olmeda tallied 10. Broadsword had a game-high 12 rebounds (five offensive) and Courtney paced the Hornets with five assists.
Each team corralled 35 rebounds, but Bluffton had advantages in field-goal percentage (49-45%), assists (15-13), and steals (5-3). Turnovers were also a thorn in K's side, as they committed 11 while Bluffton tallied six.
The Hornets will have to deal with a quick turnaround, staying in Ohio to face host Oberlin College Thursday at 6 p.m.