North Manchester, Ind. - The Manchester University Men's Basketball team hosted Franklin College for their final regular season match up.

Manchester needed to win this game and for Bluffton to lose to Anderson to clinch the #8 seed in the HCAC Tournament. Bluffton would go on to lose by 32 which meant Manchester just needed to win.

The Spartans stormed back from being down 19 and would take down Franklin 83-78 to clinch the final spot in the HCAC Tournament.

Manchester 83, Franklin 78.

A rough first half for the Spartans saw the Grizzlies going into the locker rooms with an 18 point lead. The Spartans comeback did not just happen in a matter of seconds, they would chip away at Franklin, making stops, getting baskets, and drawing fouls. Free throws would ultimately be the game changer as the Spartans last seven points would come from the stripe. Logan Brace (Fremont, Ind., Fremont) came in and dominated on defense and got sent to the line to shoot eight free throws in which he made seven. Zach Sawyer (Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Watterson) played 37 minutes, including the last five minutes on four fouls and was able to pick up his 4th double-double of the season. Ty Lynas (Crawfordsville, Ind., Crawfordsville) scored a Spartan high of 15 points that included the dagger to put the Spartans up four with a minute left. The Spartans had six players in double figures and combined for four blocks and nine steals as a team. 

The Spartans will take the trip to Anderson to take on the #1 Seeded Ravens in the first round of the HCAC Tournament on February 22.