NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Three Manchester University players wound up in double figures Wednesday, Nov. 18, helping send the Spartans past Olivet College of Michigan 84-75.
Senior guard Brady Dolezal (Tipton, Ind.) fired in 22 points, which included an impressive 13-of-19 effort from the free throw line; freshman guard Adrian Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) continued a strong first week in a Black and Gold uniform tallying 17 points to go with a team-high five steals; and sophomore forward/center Enis Becirevic (Fort Wayne, Ind.) came off the bench to total 15 points. MU, improving to 1-1, held a 43-34 edge on the glass, too, with junior guard Blake Brouwer (Elkhart, Ind.) grabbing 12 rebounds to add to a line that included seven points and three blocked shots.
The hosts, winning the program's 10th consecutive home-opening game, brought the crowd inside Stauffer-Wolfe Arena to its feet early and often. After trailing 8-4 in the opening moments, an 8-0 run gave the Spartans a lead they would relinquish just once. The advantage expanded to as much as 10 late in the first half before the Comets (0-3) rallied back and trimmed the margin to four at the break (41-37). Olivet continued to battle in the opening portion of the second half, eventually holding a 66-65 edge with 9:36 to play before Manchester University went on an 11-2 run and didn't look back.
MU returns to action Saturday, Nov. 21, continuing a three-game home stand. Indiana University – Northwest comes to North Manchester for a 5 p.m. tipoff.
NOTES: Dolezal recorded his ninth 20-point-plus career effort. It was the second in his last three games dating back to the end of 2014-15 … Brouwer's 12 boards were a personal single-game high and the second time he's grabbed 10-or-more … The 28-of-40 free throw total for the Black and Gold marked the most made and attempted charity shots in a game since the 2011-12 campaign.