Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College men's basketball team placed five players in double figures, but could not overcome timely outside shooting in a 74-68 loss to Bluffton University in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) action on Saturday at the Spurlock Center.

Juniors Aaron Mann (Indianapolis, Ind./Howe) and Robbie Prather (Franklin, Ind./Roncalli) each scored 15 points to lead the offensive attack. Seniors Matt Niehoff (Rushville, Ind./Rushville) and Trae Washington (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South) joined junior John Beineke (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) in scoring 10 points.

Bluffton (8-3, 3-1 HCAC) connected on 4 of 6 three-point field goal attempts in the second half. Trey Elchert tied the game at 60-60 with a three-point field goal at the 5:28 mark.

Franklin used a 13-4 run early in the first half to take a 16-12 advantage after a three-point field goal by Prather. The lead reached eight points, 21-13, following a layup by junior Trey Boles (Carrollton, Ky./Carroll County) at the 10:26 mark of the first half. Later in the period, a layup by Niehoff gave Franklin a 29-22 lead with 6:15 left. The Grizzlies led 39-38 at halftime after Bluffton's Billy Taflinger scored five points in the final 31 seconds of the first half.

Franklin opened the second half on an 8-2 spurt to take a 47-40 lead after a jumper by Beineke with 16:45 left.

Bluffton tied the game, 52-52, after a three-point field goal by Austin Terrill at the 12:12 mark. The teams battled back-and-forth with the largest lead at three points until a layup by Austin Rohde gave the visitors a 69-64 advantage with 2:29 left.

Consecutive layups by Boles and Prather got Franklin within two points, 70-68, with 39 seconds left. Bluffton sealed the victory when Thayne Recker converted a layup with 12 seconds left. The basket gave the Beavers a 72-68 lead. Two additional free throws by Taflinger pushed the final margin to six points.

Franklin returns to action on Wednesday, January 6, at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Manchester University from the Spurlock Center. Live statistics and video of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics). Like the Grizzlies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics), and on Instagram (@fcgrizzlies).