Box Score NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Six made three-pointers and a 40-32 edge on the boards weren't enough for Manchester University to overcome a second half rally by Hanover Saturday, Jan. 26.
The Spartans, dipping to 4-15 overall and 1-11 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with a 78-57 loss, gave the Panthers (13-6, 10-2 HCAC) all they could handle for most of the contest. MU, after trailing 10-2 out of the gate, caught their guests at 24-24 with just under five minutes to go in the first half. Hanover answered with a 7-0 run to hold a 33-28 halftime lead, but Coach Brad Nadborne's squad opened the second half strong with a 10-5 roll to tie it at 38-38 with just over 17 minutes left.
From there, the Panthers took off on a 14-2 run as part of a 40-19 stretch to end the game. Hanover hit 50 percent from the field in the second half to support the run.
Sophomore forward Silas Sims (Hope, Ind.) went seven-of-11 from the field, hit both of his three-point attempts, grabbed six rebounds and picked up two steals to guide the Spartans. Freshman forward Jared Schrock (Logansport, Ind.) produced a solid effort, too, with 10 points, a trey, four rebounds, an assist, a blocked shot and two steals. Other statistical category leaders for MU were sophomore guard Grant Newlin (Muncie, Ind.) with two blocked shots and sophomore guard Caleb Jackson (New Castle, Ind.) with four assists and eight rebounds.
The Black and Gold continue a brief two-game home stand Wednesday, Jan. 30, with a 7:30 p.m. tipoff against Defiance at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.
NOTES: Sims closed a strong week with Saturday's totals. He averaged 12.5 points and five rebounds per game, joining Jackson in first, and also shared the team lead with two steals. He also moved his multiple-rebound game streak to 10. … MU's six treys marked the 14th time this season they've hit five-or-more in a game.
