Box Score HANOVER, Ind. – Hanover (6-2 overall, 2-1 HCAC) welcomed Manchester in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action defeating the Spartans 83-74.
 
The HCAC clash opened at a high pace with both teams pushing the floor. The Panthers and Spartans exchanged buckets as the Manchester scoring leader Zach Sawyer was able to get to the rim. However, senior Luke Miller (Madison, Ind.) began to heat up connecting from three-point to give Hanover a slim 13-11 difference with just under 15 minutes to play.
 
Senior Coleman Sater (Ellettsville, Ind.) showed his strength around the rim getting an old-fashioned three-point play. At the midway point in the opening half Manchester was able to flip the script and claim the 22-20 advantage. The Panthers entered a scoring drought that Malachi McNair (Evansville, Ind.) halted. The freshman used his strong presence in the post scoring six straight Panther points to reclaim the 30-29 lead. Manchester was able to cling to a 39-36 halftime lead.
 
Senior Luke Miller (Madison, Ind.) opened the second half strong for the Panthers as the senior hit a corner jumper before a sophomore CJ Walls (Louisville, Ky.) layup pulled Hanover within 42-40. Manchester would not be denied offensively continuing to tax the Hanover defense en route to a 54-46 lead at the 12:43 mark.
 
Senior Kyle Crim (Manilla, Ind.) landed a three-pointer at the midway point when Jeremiah Alexander (Indianapolis, Ind.) provided a deep ball that knotted the contest, 56-56. The intensity remained high with Hanover making a late-game push. Alexander remained the hot hand scoring eight points in a two-minute span, 63-58.
 
The Panthers held on tight refusing to give up the lead down the stretch. Luke Miller provided the three-point dagger at 3:19 netting his 15^th points of the afternoon, 74-67. The rest was history as the Blue and Red held off the Spartans for the win.
 
INSIDE THE STATS
Sater led the Panthers with 23 points and four assists. Luke Miller added 18 points and two blocks.
McNair finished with 10 points.
 
Hanover returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 18 when they travel to Anderson. Game time is set for 2:00 PM.