HANOVER, IND. – Sophomore forward/center Enis Becirevic (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and freshman guard Adrian Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) topped the scoring column for Manchester University Saturday, Feb. 6.

Beciveric, registering a single-game personal high 22 points on 10-of-12 field goal shooting, added five rebounds and dished out two assists as part of his statistical line at Hanover College's Collier Arena. Johnson ended right behind his underclassman teammate, tallying 19 points to go with team highs in assists (five), rebounds (seven) and steals (six). Senior forward Matt Brown (Hobart, Ind.) came off the bench to add his name to the double-digit list (11 points).

During a close-knit conference clash, MU, who dropped to 10-11 overall and 7-7 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, battled back from as large as a five-point first half deficit against Hanover (11-10, 9-5 HCAC), holding an eight-point advantage (62-54) with 8:18 left in regulation. The Panthers answered with an 11-0 run to retake a 65-62 edge, eventually hanging on for a 78-73 victory. Both teams proved sharp from the field accuracy-wise, hitting 50 percent or better, but HC titled the scales due to a 7-3 advantage in made three-point baskets.

The Spartans, only a game out of sixth and just two games shy of a three-way tie for third place in the league, begin a critical two-game home stand Wednesday, Feb. 10. Anderson University visits Stauffer-Wolfe Arena for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

NOTES: Becirevic, compiling his third double-figure effort in the last four contests, saw his season points' average improve to 7.7 per game, a rise of nine-tenths in the span.