ANGOLA, Ind. - Junior Ian Jackson (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) led the Trine University men's basketball team with 38 points in their 73-61 win over Manchester College in the final day of the MIAA/HCAC Challenge. The Thunder are now 3-2 on the season.

Manchester jumped out early on the Thunder scoring the first five points of the game. The Spartans continued their run as they built to their biggest lead of the game at seven points. Trine was able to battle back as they scored 10 unanswered points to take their first lead of the game. The two sides battled it out over the final minutes of the first half as the Thunder took a 29-26 at the half.

The Spartans lone lead of the second half would come just five minutes in at 34-33, as the Thunder quickly regained the lead. Trine would score 20 unanswered points to take a commanding lead at 53-34.  Manchester was unable to close the deficit as they fouled the Thunder on every possession in the final two minutes. Trine converted on 14 free throws over the final minutes.

Jackson scored his career-high 38 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Freshman Braden Knight (Bedford, Ind./Bedford North Lawrence) also scored in double-digits and he poured in a season-best 16 points including going 10-of-12 from the charity stripe. Senior Time Pearcy (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg) and freshman Dustin Hall (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) each added in eight points. Hall and sophomore Chris Kent (Angola, Ind./Angola) each had three assists to lead the Thunder. Junior Scott Rogers (Waterford, Mich./Kettering) led Trine with six rebounds.

Manchester shot better from behind the arc and from the floor overall, but the Thunder shot 75 percent (24-for-32) from the charity stripe. Despite not making a field goal in the final nine minutes of the game, the Thunder still outscored the Spartans 44-35 in the second half.

Trine will take the week off before hosting North Park University on December 3 at 3:00 p.m.