Junior center Will Pope is one of the key players for the Bluffton University men’s basketball team this season.

The Preble Shawnee High School graduate was the Beavers’ No. 1 rebounder (5.6) and No. 2 scorer (10.2) heading into Wednesday night’s game at Defiance.

Pope started 10 of the first 11 games and shot 45.3 percent from the floor as the Beavers compiled a 4-7 record (0-4 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference).

Bluffton travels to Hanover at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Women’s basketball

Sophomore guard Rachel DeBord (Lebanon) and freshman guard Abby Jerger (Madison) contributed to a 6-5 start (1-3 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference) for Bluffton.

DeBord started 10 games and averaged 7.2 points, 2.4 assists and 2.2 rebounds per contest, shooting 78.6 percent from the foul line. Jerger played in eight games off the bench and totaled eight rebounds, six assists, three steals and two points.

The Beavers traveled to Defiance on Wednesday night and will visit Hanover on Saturday at 2 p.m.

• Freshman guard Alexis Murphy (Carlisle) has played in five games for Nova Southeastern, collecting eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Sharks, 8-3 overall and 0-1 in the Sunshine State Conference, travel to Eckerd Saturday at 2 p.m.

Football

Freshman tight end Nick Durham (Fenwick) played in every game and caught four passes for 47 yards for Columbia, which finished 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Ivy League.

Men’s indoor track

Wilmington sophomore Jake Simpkins (Valley View) took 11th place in the 800-meter run at Kent State’s Golden Flash Gala on Dec. 7-8.

His time was 1:59.26. The Quakers return to action Jan. 19 at the Otterbein Invitational.