ANDERSON, Ind. – The Manchester University men's basketball squad won its second consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Wednesday night after outlasting rival Anderson on the road 87-84.
Wednesday's game was close throughout as neither side led by more than eight points.
Both teams shot well in the opening half. Manchester finished 15-37 (40.5 percent) from the field while also shooting a strong 7-17 (41.2 percent) from downtown. The Ravens finished 16-30 (53.3 percent) from the floor and 4-8 from three through the game's first 20 minutes. The Black & Gold held a narrow one-point advantage at the intermission, 40-39.
While Manchester was held in check from the perimeter in the 2
nd half (just 1-7 from three), the Black & Gold still shot a blistering 58.3 percent overall (14-24). The Spartans also made the most of their opportunities at the free throw line, shooting 18-22 from the stripe in the 2
nd half.
An 11-0 run from the 8:58 mark to the 6:54 mark of the 2
nd half would give the Spartans a lead that they would not relinquish.
Anderson's game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer drew iron but fell harmlessly to the floor.
The Spartans finished Wednesday's contest shooting 29-61 from the field – good for a 47.5 percent clip. Manchester also finished 21-27 from the free throw line – good for 77.8 percent.
Brandon Christlieb (Ashley, Ind./Prairie Heights) led Manchester with 25 points and eight rebounds. Christlieb shot 8-16 from the floor, 4-8 from deep, and 5-6 from the charity stripe.
Quentez Columbus (South Bend, Ind./Adams) added a season-high 24 points on the strength of 8-12 shooting from the field and 7-8 shooting from the free throw line. Columbus added eight boards.
Ty Lynas (Crawfordsville, Ind./Crawfordsville) and
Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison) both scored in double figures against the Ravens, scoring 14 and 13 points, respectively. Lynas added five assists.
Anderson was led by Maurice Knight's double-double of 34 points and 10 rebounds. Camden Smith added 18 points off the bench.
Manchester (4-8, 3-2 HCAC) is scheduled to host Mt. St. Joseph University inside of Stauffer-Wolfe Arena on Saturday January 8 at 3 p.m.
Anderson fell to 8-4, 3-2 HCAC with the loss.