North Manchester, Ind. - Manchester nearly erased a 10-point halftime deficit, but Bluffton hung on late to slip past the Spartans, 73-68, Wednesday night at Stauffer Wolfe Arena.

Manchester trailed 36-26 at the break after a cold-shooting first half (7-for-27), but the Spartans flipped the game with a much sharper second half—scoring 42 points, knocking down five more threes, and getting to the line consistently (11-for-12 after halftime, 18-for-20 overall). Clay McCorkle fueled the rally with a team-high 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting, adding three assists and hitting three triples. Ladarius Wallace added 16 points and five assists, while Ty Lynas finished with 14 points and a monster 16 rebounds.

The Spartans chipped away throughout the final 10 minutes, getting key baskets from Logan Brace (eight points, eight boards) and timely shooting from Talan Boehler, who hit three 3-pointers and assisted on the game-tying triple with 1:20 left to make it 68-68. Bluffton responded at the stripe in the final minute to regain control, and Manchester's last chances wouldn't fall as the Beavers sealed it with free throws in the closing seconds.

Manchester finished with 10 made threes and 13 assists, but Bluffton's edge in the paint (38 points to Manchester's 18) and a steady parade to the foul line late proved decisive, especially with the Spartans dealing with foul trouble.