ANDERSON, Ind. - The Manchester University men's basketball team captured a share of the 2022-23 HCAC regular season title for the first time since the 2010-11 season after defeating rival Anderson University 78-73. The Spartans also clinched first place in the HCAC and will host the conference tournament semi-finals and finals on February 24-25. 

The Ravens jumped out to an early lead, going on a 14-2 run to open the first half of Friday night's game. The Spartans' slow start allowed Anderson to snag a 14 point advantage with 10:41 on the clock. MU would answer, cutting the Ravens' lead to 4 with under two minutes remaining in the opening half. Anderson would outscore the Spartans 43-36 to take the seven-point lead at halftime. 

Manchester and Anderson would go back-and-forth to begin the second half of Friday night's game, tying the score four different times in the first 13 minutes of play. AU retook the lead and extended it to five points with 3:39 left to play. The Spartans tied the score up again at 73 with 1:51 on the clock. Two made free-throws would give Anderson the two-point lead, but Manchester would answer, retaking the lead thanks to a made three-point shot by Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind., Harrison). The Spartans would hang on to win Friday night's game by a final score of 78-73. 

Zach Sawyer (Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Watterson) led the Spartans with a double-double after scoring 22 points and pulling down 14 rebounds for the Black and Gold. Quentez Columbus (South Bend, Ind., Adams) added 19 points and a team-high 6 steals for MU. Ty Lynas (Crawfordsville, Ind., Crawfordsville) scored 14 points for the Spartans, while Logan Willoughby (Greenwood, Ind., Whiteland Community) finished the night with 12 points. Coy Hampton (Park Forest, Ill., Crete Monee) tallied 3 blocked shots. As a team, Manchester shot 44.8% from the field, 35.0% from three-point range, and 57.9% from the free throw line. 

Tate Ivanyo led the Ravens with 17 points. Alex Hunt added 15 points and 5 steals for AU, while Camden Smith finished the night with 13 points. Elijah Mattingly added a team-high 5 blocks for the Ravens during Friday's contest. As a team, Anderson shot 39.3% from the field, 32.3% from three-point range, and 75.0% from the free throw line. Anderson will play in game two of the semifinals in the HCAC tournament on Friday, February 24.

Manchester men's basketball team will host the HCAC tournament semifinal and final rounds. The Spartans will play on Friday, February 24 in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena.