Hanover College and Franklin College will tangle in the championship game of the 2005 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. The Panthers and Grizzlies each posted victories in semifinal contests played Friday, Feb. 25, in Collier Arena.
Hanover, the event's top seed, handled Bluffton University (OH), 77-67, in the nightcap. Franklin opened the evening with a 73-67 triumph against Transylvania University (KY).
Six players reached double figures in Hanover's win. Senior guard Matt Moore dropped in a team-high 20 points. Junior forward Ben Lye added 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for the Panthers (22-5).
Scott Bergman scored a game-high 27 points to pace Bluffton, which entered as the tournament's fifth seed. Michael Anthony netted 16 points and Eric Sweet added 14 points for the Beavers, which close the season with a 14-13 record.
Hanover used a 9-2 run in the final two minutes of the first period to post a 41-26 advantage at the intermission. Moore and senior center Tommy Dennis scored five points apiece as Hanover pushed the margin to 24 points (55-31) four minutes into the second period.
Bergman, Anthony and Sweet combined for 17 points as Bluffton mounted a 24-10 run to shave the Panthers' lead to 65-55 with 6:47 remaining in the game.
Hanover used most of the shot clock on each possession down the stretch. Moore canned a three-pointer and the squad added four free throws in the final 90 seconds to hold off the Beavers.
In the opener, Franklin came roaring out of the gate to start the second period and went on to knock second-seed Transylvania out of the tournament.
Trailing 30-21 at the half, Franklin outscored the Pioneers 10-0 to open the second period to bolt into a 31-30 lead at the 15:41 mark. The teams traded blows for the next 12 minutes. The squads were tied five times and swapped the lead six times before the Grizzlies snapped a 56-56 deadlock with a 6-0 run.
Nick Scott scored two baskets and Alan Davidson added a bucket as Franklin grabbed a 62-56 lead with 3:27 on the clock. Transylvania pulled within three points twice, but the Grizzlies' Jared Sabelhaus drilled a three-pointer, then added a layup to boost the lead to 69-63 with 1:38 to go.
Scott hit a field goal and added a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal Franklin's victory.
Scott scored a game-high 30 points to lead Franklin, the third seed. Sabelhaus provided a spark with 13 second-half points and five rebounds off the bench for the Grizzlies (18-9).
Joey Searle keyed Transylvania with 20 points off the bench. Matt Finke added 19 points for the Pioneers (20-6).
Hanover and Franklin will battle for the Heartland Conference title at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 26, in Collier Arena. The winner earns the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III national tournament.
Hanover swept two games from the Grizzlies during the regular season. The Panthers opened HCAC play with a 67-57 win Jan. 5 in Franklin, IN. Hanover escaped with a 68-67 victory Feb. 19 when the squads met in the regular-season finale in Collier Arena.