ELMHURST, ILL. – Manchester University got a balanced scoring attack with seven individuals reaching the points column, but it wasn't enough to capture a season-opening victory Wednesday, Nov. 15.

Junior guard Adrian Johnson (Indianapolis, Ind.) led the Black and Gold attack at R.A. Faganel Hall with 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting to go with five assists and a pair of blocked shots. Senior forward/center Enis Becirevic (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was just as tough on the Bluejays' defense, tallying 15 points, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking a shot; Kenny Doss, Jr. (Chicago, Ill.) added 14 points and a team-leading three steals; and senior guard Brody Kirby (Frankfort, Ind.) finished with 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal to help lead Coach Gerad Good's squad in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference – Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin battle.

In the end, Elmhurst used a vise-like full-court defense to overturn an eight-point deficit (74-66) with 1:42 left into an 80-74 victory. Four turnovers, two misses at the free throw line and a zero-for-three effort from the field for the Spartans proved vital down the stretch, too, as the home side, much to the delight of nearly 900 fans, went on a 14-0 run to end the contest.

Manchester University looks to rebound with the beginning of a three-game run against the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Friday, Nov. 17. They tip-off at 5 p.m. at Anderson University's O.C. Lewis Gymnasium versus Kalamazoo College.