NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Spartans defeated the visiting Bluffton University Beavers 80-64 on Wednesday, December 6. Manchester improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while Bluffton fell to 2-4, 0-2 HCAC.

The Spartans took an early 8-2 lead in the opening half of Wednesday night's game after making four of their first six shots. Manchester extended its lead to as much as 11 points in the first half. The Black and Gold would take a 35-28 lead at the half. 

Manchester shot 47.06% in the second half as the Spartans extended their lead to 20 with 6:17 on the clock. Bluffton would try to cut the Spartans' lead, but Manchester's offensive attack held off the Beavers as the Black and Gold finished Wednesday night's game on top 80-64.

As a team, Manchester shot 43.3% (28-67) from the floor, while the visiting Beavers shot 36.2% (21-58) on the night. 

Matt Ray led the Beavers with 17 points. Ian Snelling added 12 points, while Connor Martin finished with eight points and six rebounds. 

Four Spartans scored in double digits on Wednesday night. Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind., Harrison) led the Black and Gold with 26 points, followed by Ty Lynas (Crawfordsville, Ind., Crawfordsville) with 20 points and five assists. Mitch Mendenhall (New Haven, Ind., Woodlan) and Zach Sawyer (Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Watterson) each finished the night with 12 points. Sawyer also had a team-high eight rebounds.

Up next, Manchester men's basketball will host Transylvania University in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena on Saturday, December 9.