BLUFFTON, Ohio – The visiting Manchester University Spartans were able to cut Bluffton's lead to just four points with five minutes left in regulation, however, the Beavers were able to stave off MU's comeback en route to a 76-66 win in Ohio on Friday night.

Manchester led for a majority of the opening half, until an 11-3 run by Bluffton pushed the host Beavers to a narrow 32-28 advantage at the intermission. Following halftime, Bluffton maintained a steady double-digit advantage.

The Spartans were able to claw back into Friday's contest, trimming Bluffton's lead to just four points, 59-55, at the 4:53 mark of the second half. As the game tightened, the Beavers responded with a quick 10-2 run to seal the game.

For the game, Bluffton shot 29-62 (46.8%) from the field. BU knocked down 10 three-pointers, finishing with a 45.5 shooting percentage from downtown.

Manchester shot 26-61 (42.6%) on Friday night. The Spartans were limited to 7-24 shooting from three-point territory, good for 29.2%.

Senior forward CJ Hampton (Hammond, Ind./Griffith) led MU with 23 points. Cortiz Buckner (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jefferson) added 15 points. Freshman Aidan Jahraus (Altamont, Ill./Altamont Community) scored 13 points and made a trio of threes in his first collegiate start.

Jameel Cosby led Bluffton with 21 points.

Tomorrow's rematch between these two schools will be played again at Bluffton University in Ohio. Game time is set for 3 p.m.