CINCINNATI, OHIO – A strong second half performance from the field hitting at better than 47 percent highlighted Manchester University's trip to the College of Mt. St. Joseph of Ohio Saturday, Feb. 15.
The Spartans, falling to 5-18 overall and 4-12 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, rebounded from a first half in which host MSJ (14-8, 11-5 HCAC) jumped out to a 25-9 lead en route to a 56-29 halftime advantage. MU was out-scored only 36-34 in the second frame of the Lions' 92-63 victory due to 47.8 percent shooting in comparison to the hosts' 37.5 percent performance.
Four Spartans closed in double figures. Junior forward Jon Thompson (Rushville, Ind.) tallied a team-high 13 points, earning double digits for the 10th time in the last 13 contests, while sophomore forward Jarod Schrock (Logansport, Ind.) and freshman guard Blake Brouwer (Elkhart, Ind.) each tossed in 12 points. Schrock kept himself in the league's top echelon in blocked shots by repelling two MSJ attempts, and Brouwer grabbed a team-best eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Brady Dolezal (Tipton, Ind.) added his name to the double-figure scoring column with 10 points to up his string of 10-points-or-more outings to 11 straight.
Manchester University moves into the final week of the 2013-14 season next week. They open their final two-game set with a trip to Defiance College of Ohio for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off Wednesday, Feb. 19.