DAYTON, Tenn. – Bluefield University men's basketball put together a strong second-half effort but was unable to overcome an early deficit Saturday afternoon, falling 87–76 on the road at Bryan inside Summers Gymnasium.
The Rams found themselves playing from behind early as Bryan capitalized on efficient shooting in the opening half. Bluefield settled in offensively behind Shaft Clark and DJ McDonald, who combined for several early baskets to keep the Rams within striking distance. Lenair Young added a pair of finishes in the lane, and Danny Alford controlled the glass on both ends, but Bryan closed the half on a late run to take a 45–30 lead into the break.
BU responded with energy after halftime, cutting into the margin with improved ball movement and transition offense. Ke'Shaun Tonsall sparked the surge with back-to-back finishes in the paint, and Young knocked down a three to trim the deficit to 16. The Rams continued to chip away, as McDonald converted an and-one opportunity and Clark scored on consecutive possessions to bring Bluefield within single digits midway through the half.
The Rams kept pushing late. Tonsall scored nine of his 14 points in the second half, including a fastbreak layup and a three-point play that cut the Bryan lead to 70–63 with just under nine minutes remaining. Bluefield's defense forced turnovers and created second-chance opportunities, but Bryan answered with timely three-pointers and free throws to halt the momentum.
Despite the loss, BU outscored Bryan 46–42 in the second half and finished with 48 points in the paint. The Rams also turned defense into offense, scoring 18 fastbreak points and 16 points off turnovers.
Tonsall led Bluefield with 14 points, while Alford added 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Young finished with 12 points, including a pair of three-pointers, and McDonald chipped in 12 points off the bench. Clark contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, and Isaiah Sanders added 10 points and a team-high eight assists.
BU returns home Monday for a non-conference matchup against Carolina. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. inside the Dome.
