NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Manchester men's basketball team rallied against HCAC-leading Franklin College in the second half on Saturday, however, the Grizzlies outlasted the Spartans 69-60.

The hottest team in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Franklin College jumped out to an early 15-0 lead seven minutes into the game. The Spartans' offense began to come alive and MU clamped defensively the remainder of the first half. Manchester managed to claw back against the Grizzlies and trailed by just six, 30-24, at the half.

Franklin managed to maintain a comfortable lead for most of the second half, but Manchester managed to hang around just long enough to push the conference's top team down the stretch.

A 7-2 run by the Black & Gold got the Spartans to within five points, 53-48, with just over six minutes left to play. After trading baskets over the next minute, Manchester inched closer and cut its deficit to just four, 58-54, with 4:47 remaining.

Franklin managed to get several key stops and scores late to outlast Manchester by a 69-60 final.

The Spartans' defense held Franklin to 38.6 percent (22-57) shooting, its lowest field goal percentage of the season. Franklin's defense was equally efficient, holding Manchester to just 35.5 percent (22-62) shooting, while forcing 19 turnovers.

CJ Hampton (Hammond, Ind./Griffith) led four Spartans in double figures with 14 points. DeMoines Whitney (Detroit, Mich./Western International) added 13 points and three blocks. Both Cortiz Buckner (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jefferson) and Matthew Westman (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City) added 10 points apiece for the Black and Gold.

Franklin had to fight hard to extend its current winning streak to eight games. Franklin improved to 11-4, 7-1 HCAC with the victory.

The Spartans (5-10, 3-5 HCAC) will travel to Bluffton University on Wednesday January 22. Manchester and Bluffton will face off at 7:30 p.m.