NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Black and Gold edged out the visiting Hanover College Panthers 74-72 on Saturday, February 11. 

Prior to the start of Saturday's game, the Manchester men's basketball team recognized senior student assistant Darvoni Christopher in Stauffer-Wolfe Arena. 

The Spartans jumped out to a seven-point lead to open Saturday's game. The Panthers would answer with back-to-back three-point shots to bring Hanover within three points with just under 13 minutes to play in the first half. Hanover would tie the score up at 15 and 20 points, but the Black and Gold would fight back to regain an eight-point lead with just under 4 minutes on the clock. Manchester narrowly outscored Hanover 36-33 to take the 3 point lead at halftime. 

The Spartans extended their lead to 13 points in the second half of Saturday's game, but the Panthers refused to surrender, fighting their way back to take a one-point lead with one minute left to play. Two made free throws would put the Spartans back on top with 47 seconds on the clock, but Hanover would answer with a made jump shot in the paint to again take the one-point lead with under 30 seconds left on the clock. As time ran down, junior forward Mitch Mendenhall (New Haven, Ind., Woodlan) sank a three-point shot to give Manchester the two-point victory on Saturday. 

Three Spartans led the Black and Gold with 17 points during Saturday's contest, including Logan Willoughby (Greenwood, Ind., Whiteland Community), Ty Lynas (Crawfordsville, Ind., Crawfordsville), and Quentez Columbus (South Bend, Ind., Adams). Columbus also added a team-high 3 steals, while Bryant Smith (West Lafayette, Ind., Harrison) finished the afternoon with 13 points. Zach Sawyer (Columbus, Ohio, Bishop Watterson) had a team-high 6 rebounds and Coy Hampton (Park Forest, Ill., Crete Monee) tallied 2 blocks. As a team. MU shot 40.7% (24-59) from the field, 31.6% (6-19) from three-point range, and 80.0% (20-25) from the free throw line. 

Leading the way for the Panthers was Ty Houston with 23 points and 3 blocks. Coleman Sater added 18 points for Hanover, while Max Greenamoyer finished the afternoon with 12 points and 12 rebounds. As a team, Hanover shot 36.9% (24-65) from the field, 17.2% (5-29) from three-point range, and 90.5% (19-21) from the free throw line. The Panthers fell to 15-8,11-5 HCAC following Saturday's loss. 

The Spartans (14-9,12-4 HCAC) have two games left in the regular season. Manchester men's basketball will host the Bluffton Beavers on Tuesday, February 14 before traveling to rival Anderson University in their regular season finale on Friday, February 17.