Anderson Takes on Bluffton in HCAC Tournament

The fifth-seeded Anderson University men's basketball team takes on fourth-seeded Bluffton University in the Opening Round of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament on Friday at 6 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.

Anderson (13-12, 10-8) has put together a three-game winning streak, which is currently tied for the longest winning streak in the conference. The Ravens began their winning streak by powering to a 106-87 HCAC victory on the road against HCAC co-champion Franklin College (17-8, 13-5).

"I am really looking forward to this weekend," Coach Owen Handy said. "We have been talking for a month about what it will take for us to finish the season playing our best basketball. And for the most part I am very pleased with how we have played out last three games. We've been able to establish a transition tempo that is difficult for opponents to manage, and we have given good effort and focus at the defensive end of the floor. I think a real key for use is starting the game with a high level of intensity. 100% effort with 80% accuracy is much better on the basketball court than 80% effort with 100% accuracy. I think if we are really bought into that mindset, then we could have a really good weekend."

Maurice Knight leads the HCAC with 19.6 points per game and 1.64 blocks per game. The 6-foot-4 junior wing from Frankton currently ranks fourth in the HCAC with 7.3 rebounds per game.

Malik Laffoon has contributed 14.5 points per game. The 6-foot-2 senior guard from Bloomington has drained 113-of-139 (81.3 percent) shots from the free-throw line. Laffoon ranks fifth in the conference in free-throw percentage (.813) and blocks per game (0.8).

Ronny Williams has tallied 10.1 points per game. The 5-foot-8 junior guard from Anderson ranks second in the HCAC with 1.9 steals per game. Williams leads the team in steals per game and assists per game (2.3).

Dalton DuBois has put together 9.6 points per game. Austin Lyons has provided 9.4 points per game and Jake Gudorf has notched 4.6 points per game.

Anderson currently leads the conference in 3-point field-goal defense (.339) and blocks per game (4.3).

Bluffton (15-10, 11-7) is led by Andrew Renner, who among HCAC leaders ranks second in scoring (17.6) and fifth in rebounding (6.6). Jameel Cosby has produced 12.3 points per game. Dezman Brown has tallied 11.3 points per game and 3.0 assists per game. Renner and Brown have both collected 1.1 steals per game. Brown ranks first in the HCAC and 19th in the nation with a 2.78 assist-turnover ratio. Isaiah Taylor has recorded averages of 9.8 points and 0.8 blocks while Aaron Rich has scored 6.8 points per game.

Bluffton allows just 62.9 points per game, which ranks second in the HCAC and ninth in the nation. The Beavers also allow a conference-low field-goal percentage of .408.

Bluffton picked up the season sweep against the Ravens, earning an 81-71 win on Jan. 18 in Bluffton, Ohio as well as a 63-60 victory on Feb. 8 in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.

"We are a very evenly-matched team with Bluffton. Our two regular season games with Bluffton were both very close, ahead by one with nine minutes to play on the road, and down one with five minutes to play at home. In both games, we were hurt by turnovers and giving up offensive rebounds down the stretch of the game. If we can defend the middle of the floor, protect possession, and neutralize them on the glass, I like our chances."

Rebounding is expected to be one of many keys for the Ravens this weekend.

"The first thing we need to do is rebound the basketball. That has been a common shortcoming in many of our losses (and also some wins). We have a group that is capable of being a good rebounding team, but we often are not focused enough on executing box outs and pursuing the ball. The second thing we need to do is play as hard as we can and trust each other. That trust shows on the offensive end of the floor when the ball is moving consistently, and we are active without the ball on penetration. That trust shows itself on the defensive end when we are committed to consistent defensive rotations."

Transylvania University (17-8, 13-5) and Franklin tied for first in the conference standings, but Transylvania held the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed. Franklin closed out with the No. 2 seed. Hanover College (17-8, 11-7) held the tiebreaker against Bluffton for the No. 3 seed. The Ravens secured the No. 5 seed in a tiebreaker while Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (13-12, 10-8) rounds out the tournament field.

HCAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

HCAC Tournament Opening Round – Friday, Feb. 28 – Lexington, Ky.

Game #1: 6 p.m. – No. 5 Anderson vs. No. 4 Bluffton (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Game #2: 8 p.m. – No. 6 Rose-Hulman vs. No. 3 Hanover (Live Video) (Live Stats)

HCAC Tournament Semifinals – Saturday, Feb. 29 – Lexington, Ky.

Game #3: 5 p.m. – No. 1 Transylvania vs. Winner of Game #1 (Live Video)

Game #4: 7 p.m. – No. 2 Franklin vs. Winner of Game #2 (Live Video)

HCAC Tournament Championship – Sunday, March 1 – Lexington, Ky.

Game #5: 2:30 p.m. – Winner of Game #3 vs. Winner of Game #4 (Live Video)

HCAC Tournament Page