BLUFFTON, Ohio -- The Grove City College men's basketball team closed 2021 by dropping a 69-53 decision Thursday evening at Bluffton in the second day of action at the McDonald's of Bluffton Tournament, held in the Sommer Center. 

Grove City (5-5) led 31-28 with 3:40 left in the first half. However, Bluffton closed the first half on a 10-0 run as the Wolverines misfired on their final five field goal attempts of the half. Grove City then shot 20 percent (7 of 35) from the field in the second half.

Junior guard Joshua McCray (Jessup, Md./Ashville College, U.K.) paced Grove City with 13 points and senior guard Ben Rose (Helena, Ala./Helena) added 10 points. 

Freshman forward Ben Cano (Greenville, Pa./Greenville) pulled in a team-leading eight rebounds and freshman guard Chase Yarberough (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) added seven rebounds. Grove City outrebounded the Beavers, 41-40. Rose recorded five assists and McCray contributed three assists. 

Grove City finished 19 of 64 (30 percent) from the field for the game. Bluffton went 28 of 60 (47 percent). Grove City had 15 turnovers and Bluffton committed 10 turnovers. 

Marcus Bruns led Bluffton with 23 points.

Grove City will host Saint Vincent in Presidents' Athletic Conference play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 4.