NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Manchester University men's basketball team kicked off the 2023-24 season with a 76-61 win over Alma College in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena on Thursday, November 9. 

Manchester senior Coy Hampton (Park Forest, Ill., Crete Monee) knocked down a three-point shot to open scoring in Thursday night's contest. After both teams traded baskets following the first score of the game, the Spartans went on a 14-3 run to take the double digit lead with just over ten minutes left in the first half. The Black and Gold extended their lead to 15 and would hold off the Scots to take a 39-27 lead at halftime.

Alma would cut the Spartans' lead to three points with just under 14 minutes left on the clock in the second half. After again trading baskets in a back-and-forth battle, the Spartans pulled ahead thanks to a 9-0 run with under five minutes left in the game to put the Scots out of reach and secure a 76-61 victory to begin the season.

As a team, Manchester shot 40.9% from the field while Alma finished with a 30.6 shooting percentage from two-point range during Thursday's matchup. The Spartans narrowly out rebounded the Scots 46-42. 

Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind., Harrison) led the Black and Gold with 20 points, shooting 4-8 from behind the three-point arc during Thursday night's contest. Logan Willoughby (Greenwood, Ind., Whiteland Community) added 18 points, while Zach Sawyer (Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Watterson) finished with nine points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Austin Willoughby (Greenwood, Ind., Whiteland Community) also finished the night with eight points and eight rebounds.

The Scots were led by Tyshaun Walker with 18 points and Connor Riley with 16 points on Thursday. Colton Meister pulled down nine rebounds and had three blocks for Alma. 

Up next, the Spartans will travel to Hope College on Tuesday, November 14 for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off against the Flying Dutchmen.