HANOVER, IND. – The sophomore – junior guard combination of Chase Casteel (Monrovia, Ind.) and Brady Dolezal (Tipton, Ind.) proved an effective one-two punch for Manchester University's offense Saturday, Feb. 21.
Casteel tallied 27 points, hitting five three-pointers as part of his eight total field goals, while Dolezal produced a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds to guide the Black and Gold (5-20 overall, 4-14 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference). MU gave the host Panthers of Hanover College a stern test in the 2014-15 season closer but dropped an 83-72 decision.
Casteel and senior guard Caleb Jackson (New Castle, Ind.) each rattled home three-pointers to start the game, giving the Spartans a quick 6-0 lead. Hanover (13-12 overall, 10-8 HCAC) answered with a 15-2 run and built the advantage to 48-35 at halftime. Manchester University ebbed away at the deficit, closing to within 67-61 with better than 10 minutes to play before HC responded with a quick 7-0 stretch and didn't look back.
Looking further into MU's statistics, junior forward Matt Brown (Hobart, Ind.) and Jackson were just off double-figure scoring pace with nine points each. Brown also topped the team in steals (one) and assists (two).
NOTES: Casteel wrapped up an impressive sophomore campaign with 13 double-digit scoring games in his last 14 appearances. His 27-point effort tied a personal career single-game high he originally set at home against Bluffton University Jan. 21 while his seven boards marked the 13th time in the last 14 games he's pulled down five-or-more rebounds … Dolezal registered his second career double-double and a personal career single-game high 13 rebounds.