Photo Courtesy of Mike Lanke and Rose-Hulman Athletics

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Manchester University men's basketball team fell in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action on the road at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology by a final score of 77-61 on Wednesday January 29.

The Spartans were unable to recover from a slow start on Wednesday night. Host Rose-Hulman opened up a 15-5 advantage seven minutes into the game and never trailed on Wednesday.

Manchester got five straight points from CJ Hampton (Hammond, Ind./Griffith) late in the opening period that drew the Spartans within a basket, 26-24. Despite trailing by double digits for most of the first half, the Spartans trailed by just seven, 31-24, at halftime.

Manchester remained within striking distance in the early stages of the second period. With 13 minutes remaining in the game, Rose-Hulman then utilized a 20-7 run that spanned eight minutes to put the game out of reach.

The Spartans were held to 33 percent (21-63) shooting on Wednesday. MU made 13 of its 35 3-point field goal attempts for a 37 percent clip.

Rose-Hulman shot 46.6 percent (27-58) from the field and converted 18 of its 22 (81.8 percent) free throw attempts. The Fightin' Engineers also outrebounded Manchester 50-25.

The Spartans were led by CJ Hampton's 15 points and five rebounds. Jalen Owens (Terre Haute, Ind./Terre Haute North), playing in his hometown, added 11 points and five assists.

Manchester fell to 6-12, 4-7 HCAC on the season. The Spartans will begin the month of February at home on Saturday afternoon when the Hanover College Panthers visit Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. Game time this weekend is slated for 3 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's contest.

The Fightin' Engineers have won back-to-back games and improved to 9-9, 6-5 HCAC on the season. Rose will host Mount St. Joseph on Saturday February 1 at 3 p.m.