DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Manchester University Spartans were upended in men's basketball action at Defiance College on Wednesday night. The Yellow Jackets topped the Spartans in their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener by a final score of 80-74.

Wednesday's contest was a tight one as there were 18 lead changes and 12 ties. The Black & Gold held a narrow 39-38 lead at halftime before the Yellow Jackets outscored MU 42-35 in the second period.

A three-pointer by sophomore Hunter Perlich (Fort Wayne, Ind./Churubusco) tied the game at 65 with 6:53 remaining in Wednesday's game. The host Yellow Jackets would regain the lead on their next possession and ended the game on a 15-9 run to seal the win.

Defiance shot 50 percent (33-66) from the field on Wednesday. DC shot 6-20 (30 percent) from beyond the three-point arc. Manchester shot 44.6 percent (29-65) from the floor against the Yellow Jackets. The Black & Gold finished 9-27 (33 percent) from three-point distance.

First-year point guard Quentez Columbus (South Bend, Ind./Adams) led Manchester with 18 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. Columbus shot 7-16 against Defiance. Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) added 17 points. Smith finished 5-11 from downtown. Brandon Christlieb (Ashley, Ind./Prairie Heights) chipped in 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Hunter Perlich added 12 points off the bench. Fifth-year senior CJ Hampton (Hammond, Ind./Griffith) lined the stat sheet with 8 rebounds, 7 points, and 6 assists.

Defiance was led Marrell Jordan's 27 points and Dejsani Beamon's 25 points. No other Yellow Jacket scored more than 8 points in Wednesday's matchup.

Manchester (1-6, 0-1 HCAC) will travel to Earlham College on Saturday December. Game time against the Quakers is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Defiance (2-4, 1-0 HCAC) will look for its second consecutive win this weekend when it travels to Franklin College on Saturday December 4.