ANDERSON, Ind. - The Manchester University men's basketball team fell to the Anderson University Ravens by a final score of 96-86 on Friday, February 16. 

The Spartans jumped out to an early 12-point lead in the opening minutes of Friday night's game, which included nine points from junior guard Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind., Harrison). Anderson would chip away and cut Manchester's lead to three, as the scoreboard read 27-24 at the 9:02 mark. The Spartans pulled ahead, taking a 39-27 lead with 6:00 left to play in the first half. Anderson would again answer, cutting their deficit to five with 1:22 on the clock. Logan Willoughby (Greenwood, Ind., Whiteland Community) would drain a three-pointer to put the Spartans up 50-42 with a minute left to play. Willoughby shot 5-5 from behind the three-point arc en route to 21 first-half points. Manchester took a 52-48 lead at the half. 

The Black and Gold were able to maintain a lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half. Anderson tied the game at 70 apiece with 9:20 on the clock. The Ravens were able to take the lead and narrowly outscore the Spartans 15-13 in the last four and a half minutes. Anderson would take Friday night's game by a final score of 96-86.

Anderson was led by Elijah Mattingly with 20 points, 17 rebounds, and four blocks. Tate Ivanyo and Bryce Williams added 16 points apiece on Friday night. The Ravens ended the regular season with an overall record of 21-4, 16-2 HCAC. Anderson will host the semifinals and final round of the Heartland College Athletic Conference Tournament (HCAC) on February 23-24. 

Logan Willoughby led the Spartans with a season-high 31 points, shooting 5-8 from three-point range. The junior guard also dished out seven assists on Friday night. Smith had 19 points and four assists. Zach Sawyer (Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Watterson) collected his 13th double-double this season after netting 14 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Sawyer also had six assists, while Coy Hampton (Park Forest, Ill., Crete Monee) added seven points and 13 rebounds. 

Manchester concluded the regular season with an overall record of 15-10 and a conference record of 12-6. The Spartans will be the fourth seed in the HCAC Men's Basketball Tournament and will host no. 5 Franklin College in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena on Sunday, February 18. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.