The Hanover College men's basketball team spoiled the return of Defiance College (OH) head coach Jon Miller as the Panthers rolled to a 68-44 victory against the Yellow Jackets in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference battle Saturday, Jan. 24, in Collier Arena.
Junior center Tommy Dennis (Mooresville, IN) scored a game-high 16 points to pace Hanover, which improved to 16-1 and 6-0 in the HCAC.
Miller is in his first season guiding the Defiance after a stellar career as a player and assistant coach at Hanover. His Yellow Jackets dropped to 8-8 overall and 2-4 in the Heartland Conference.
Sophomore forward Brian Chrin (Loveland, OH) and senior guard Thad McCracken (Heltonville , IN) scored 12 points each for the Panthers.
McCracken hit 1-of-5 from long range to move into second place among the school's career three-point leaders. He nailed the 180th trey of his career to give Hanover a 34-24 advantage with two minutes left in the first half.
After the Panthers led 37-24 at the break, Dennis scored six points to help Hanover bump the margin to 47-29 four minutes into the second period. He later scored six points during a 10-0 run that pushed the Panthers into a 68-40 lead with 2:39 to play.
Sophomore guard Curt Croy and junior forward Matt Voland scored 11 points apiece to lead Defiance.
Hanover, which committed just six turnovers, outrebounded the Yellow Jackets 40-35. Sophomore forward Ben Lye (Taylor Mill, KY) yanked down a game-best eight boards for the Panthers.
Hanover will continue its HCAC slate Wednesday, Jan. 28, against the College of Mount St. Joseph. The Panthers and Lions will tip off at 7:30 p.m. in Cincinnati, OH.