North Manchester, Ind. - Manchester delivered one of its strongest offensive efforts of the season, but a dominant second half from Alma swung the momentum as the Spartans fell 77–65 on Wednesday night at Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.
The Spartans came out sharp, attacking the paint early and setting the tone with pace. Manchester shot 45% in the opening half and held a 33–31 lead at the break, powered by 22 paint points and active work on the offensive glass. Defensively, they forced eight turnovers and matched Alma's physicality through the first 20 minutes.
Ty Lynas was outstanding from start to finish, posting 27 points and 15 rebounds in a commanding two-way performance.
Ladarius Wallace added 12 points, including a momentum-building three to start the second half, while
Clay McCorkle contributed 8 points and 8 rebounds in heavy minutes.
Jason Kobe gave efficient production off the bench with 6 points on perfect shooting.
Alma, however, found another gear in the second half. Led by a surge in interior scoring and a steady march to the free-throw line, the Scots outscored Manchester 46–32 after halftime. Alma finished with 42 points in the paint and converted 26 free throws, capitalizing on Manchester foul trouble and second-chance opportunities to steadily extend their advantage.
Manchester continued to scrap late—winning the fast-break battle 9–7 and grabbing 14 offensive rebounds—but cold shooting in the final 10 minutes stalled any comeback push. Alma's efficiency and physicality eventually sealed the Spartans' defeat.
Despite the loss, Manchester showed improved ball movement, resilience on the glass, and confidence in the half-court offense. Lynas' standout performance and the team's strong first half provide encouraging signs as the Spartans move forward in their non-conference schedule.