BLUFFTON, Ohio – November 27, 2021 – Hiram men's basketball dropped a non-conference matchup at Bluffton on Saturday afternoon, 73-57.

In what started as a back and forth game early, Bluffton's Jameel Cosby sunk a three-point shot giving the home team a 10-4 lead at the 16:20 mark.

Tyler McMillion halted the scoring drought for the Terriers, making a layup cutting the Bluffton lead to 16-8. Looking to even the ballgame, Brodgie Gordon made a three-point shot as the visiting team now trailed 16-14 with over 12 minutes left in the half.

The Terriers continued looking for their first lead, cutting the contest to a one-possession game on multiple occasions down the stretch. Michael Ewart's made free throw made it 26-25 Beavers before Cosby hit a layup.

Bluffton closed out the half with two Damian Davis free throws heading into the break up 37-29.  

The home side came out of the break strong, going up 48-33 just over four minutes into the second half after a layup by Mike Ketner.

Hiram answered the big Beavers lead with a 10-0 run, capped by an Ishmaaeel Hayes-Muhammad layup with under eight minutes left with the score 57-46. Another Hayes-Muhammad layup put Hiram within single digits down eight with 6:22 left.

The Terriers attempt to cut the lead would come up short, however, as the Beavers scored the final five points of the game winning, 73-57.

Kevin Beans Jr. led the way for Hiram with 17 points. Gordon, Hayes-Muhammad, McMillion and Oliver Clingain all finished with seven points. Clingain was the leader on the boards picking up eight.

Cosby picked up 25 points for the Beavers, with Ketner having 17 and Davis 15.

As a team, Hiram shot 43.4% with 30 rebounds. Bluffton shot 56.5% from the floor including 37.5% from three.

Hiram opens North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play with their next game at Allegheny on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m.