Brian Bibb led the Engineer offense with 18 points.

BLUFFTON, OHIO -- Bluffton University overcame a second half charge by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology to earn a 62-53 victory in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday.

Mike Anthony led the winners with 16 points and Eric Schwieterman added 10 for a Beaver effort that led to the 200th career victory for head coach Guy Neal.

Senior Brian Bibb (Hoopeston, Ill.) paced Rose-Hulman with 18 points, including four three-pointers.  Junior Ron George (Louisville, Ky./Manual) also reached double figures with 11 points and sophomore Lorenzo Rice (Grandview, Mo.) added seven points.

Rose-Hulman jumped out to an 8-4 lead on the efforts of two three-pointers by Bibb.  The lead extended to seven points at 13-6 on a layup by Bibb and a three-pointer by junior Phil Sundling (Huntington/North).

Bluffton scored seven unanswered points to tie the score at 13-13, before Rose-Hulman answered with seven straight points to take another edge.  Bibb scored a layup, Rice buried two free throws and senior Jason Bednarko (Athens, Ill.) capped the run with a three.

Bluffton responded with nine straight points to earn a 22-20 lead, but a three-pointer by junior Ross Uthoff (Crete, Ill./Illinois Lutheran) and a score by junior Jared Moore (Indianapolis/Perry Meridian) gave Rose-Hulman another one-point edge at 28-27 late in the first half.

Bluffton shot 61% from the field in the first half, but Rose-Hulman buried six three-pointers to remain within 30-28 at halftime.

The Beavers gained a six-point lead at 36-30 early in the second half, before an 8-2 run by Rose-Hulman knotted the score at 38-38.  Senior David Yaraschefski (Mooresville) and George each scored layups to cap the run.

Three-pointers by Aaron Taylor and Nate Overmyer helped key an 8-0 Bluffton run that put the Beavers ahead 46-38 with 12:12 left.  Rice and Bibb buried three-pointers as Rose-Hulman rallied again to tie the score at 46-46.

Bluffton again pushed the lead to six points at 54-48, but another trey by Bibb closed the lead to 54-51 with 3:47 left.  The Beavers held Rose-Hulman without a point for the next three minutes to secure the win.

Blufftom improved to 14-5 on the season and 6-4 in league games, while Rose-Hulman dropped to 8-12 overall and 4-7 in conference play.  The Engineers return to action on Wednesday at Franklin College.

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