The Hanover College men's basketball team remained unbeaten in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a 78-75 victory over Manchester College, Saturday, Jan. 14, in North Manchester, IN.
Five Panthers scored in double-figures led by senior guard Thad McCracken's (Hetltonville, IN) 17 points. McCrackend shot 6-11 (54.5%) from the field, including 4-8 from beyond the three-point arc.
Sophomore guard Nate Minyard (New Castle, IN) had a career-day off the bench for the Hanover, posting career-highs in points with 11, rebounds with seven and assists with six.
Junior guard Matt Moore (Evansville, IN) tallied 13 points, five assists and three steals. Sophomore forward Brian Chrin (Loveland, OH) scored 12 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman forward Frank Passaro (Kettering, OH) added 10 points.
Manchester, now 8-7 overall and 2-2 in the HCAC was led by a trio of freshman. Sydney McDaniel led the Spartans with 19 points, including four three-pointers, and six assists. Jamaal Wade netted 15 points on five three-pointers, and Matthew Lewallen had 13 points off the bench. Sophomore center Eric Berger added 11 points.
After a Spartan three-pointer gave them a 21-19 lead, the Panthers scored 14 unanswered points, including four three-pointers and a layup to take a 33-21 lead with just over six minutes left in the half. Manchester then hit three three-pointers to cut the lead to 37-30 at the break.
Hanover would extend the lead to as many as 12 points (63-51) in the second. but the Spartans chipped away, and got within one (70-69) with 2:53 left in the game. McCracken then scored five straight points and the Panthers hit 3-4 free throws to seal the victory.
The two teams combined to make 25 three-point shots on the day. Hanover finished 11-29 (37.9%) and Manchester was 14-35 (40.0%).
With the win Hanover improves to 14-1 overall and 4-0 in league play.
Hanover will return home Wednesday, Jan. 21, to host the Transylvania University Pioneers. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.