DEFIANCE, OHIO – Senior guard Tyler Alexander (Indianapolis, Ind.) led three Manchester University players in double figures, highlighting the end of a two-game Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference road trip Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Alexander fired in 25 points on a superb nine-of-11 effort from the field of which a two-for-three finish from outside the arc was included against his former Defiance College Yellow Jacket teammates at the Karl H. Weaner Center. He also grabbed nine rebounds, picked off one of the Spartans' six steals and dished out an assist in 28 minutes. Junior forward Kenny Doss (Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore guard Adrian Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) wound up with 12 points apiece for Coach Gerad Good's crew, but it wasn't enough as the hosts remained unbeaten in league play by going 10-for-10 at the charity stripe over the final 10 minutes to stave off MU 63-58.

The Spartans, dipping to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the conference, started fast, scoring 11 of the game's first 15 points and holding as large as an eight-point lead midway through the opening 20 minutes. However, an offensive dry spell of more than six minutes allowed Defiance to regroup and take a 20-16 advantage with 6:09 to go. From that point, it was a back-and-forth scene which was decided by a 6-0 Yellow Jackets run in the last 1:03.

Manchester University concludes its first semester conference slate Saturday, Dec. 10. Defending loop co-champion and preseason favorite Mt. St. Joseph visits Stauffer-Wolfe Arena for a 3 p.m. tip-off.