NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Manchester University kept itself within striking distance of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent the College of Mt. St. Joseph of Ohio throughout the first 20 minutes before a second half run keyed the visitors Saturday, Jan. 4.

MU opened a quick 5-2 lead and kept as close as two all the way down to 7:37 remaining the first stanza. A 15-8 roll by the Lions opened the margin to 36-27 at the break, and a 12-2 march to open the second frame increased their advantage to 19. MSJ, improving to 6-4 overall and 3-1 in the HCAC, continued on to a 78-53 victory.

Junior forward Jon Thompson (Rushville, Ind.), playing in his first game of 2013-14, continued right where he left off from 2012-13. He registered his third 20-point-plus outing in his last five appearances, dating back to the end of last year, with 23 points on eight-of-15 shooting to go with a team-best five rebounds. Fellow junior Grant Newlin (Muncie, Ind.) tallied 14 points from his guard position to go with four rebounds.

MU (1-10 overall, 0-4 HCAC) continues it season Wednesday, Jan. 8. The Spartans travel to the Spurlock Center on Franklin College's campus for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.