Box Score Hanover, IN (Collier Arena) - Hanover men's basketball hosted the Earlham College Quakers in their first home HCAC match-up of the 2024-25 season and first home game of the new year. Both teams were hungry for a win this evening as the Quakers entered tonight's game at 0-13 and 0-6 in the HCAC, and the Panthers were 6-6 and 2-3 in the HCAC after losing five consecutive games on the road.

The Quakers started the game off hot by opening with an explosive 8-0 run. HC responded quickly with buckets of their own, triggering a sequence of exciting tit-for-tat scoring. Senior and freshman forwards Coleman Sater & Malachi McNair made their presence felt early controlling the boards - together they would combine for 10 total first half rebounds.

Hanover's young core was involved early and proved to be impactful. Freshman guard Jeremiah Alexander came checked into the game and gave the Panthers 3 assists right away. Alexander also hit both of his three-point attempts in big moments. Through the first ten minutes there were three lead changes, but HC would ultimately take control of the game when senior guard Luke Miller and freshman forward Jack Miller hit a pair of threes on back-to-back possessions from opposite corners.

Despite sophomore guard Ken Walker putting on a stellar display of scoring, shooting 4/5 through the first fourteen minutes, the Panthers kept their momentum going and jumped out to a thirteen point lead after a 9-0 run and now lead 35-22 - this was the biggest scoring run and lead by either team up to this point.

The Panthers took advantage of the wind in their sails and continued to pressure the the Quakers defensive unit with high-intensity offensive sets and constant rotations. Hanover was able to string together a 20-0 run through five minutes and lead 42-22 with just four minutes left in the half.

Earlham was able to break their five-minute scoring drought, cutting the lead down to sixteen, and then again to thirteen (42-29) thanks to a three-pointer to beat the buzzer. Hanover was lead by Coleman Sater (8) and Malachi McNair (7) in points through the first half, McNair also lead the Panthers in rebounds with 7.

In the second half the Panthers would be the one's on the favorable side of an opening scoring run, out pacing the Quakers 10-5 through the first six minutes of the second.

Hanover stayed persistent defensively and kept finding success on the other end of the floor too. Sharing the ball well, the Panthers had ten total players with points on the stat sheet with eleven minutes remaining.

With little resistance, Hanover was able to cruise through the remainder of the half in-route to a 78-59 victory, snapping the dreadful losing streak.

The Panthers next game is another home game against HCAC resident Rose-Hulman. Tip-off is set fo 7:30PM on Wednesday, January 15th.

Statistical Standouts for the Panthers from tonight's game include:
Jeremiah Alexander (Fr, Guard) - 17 Pts | 3 Ast | 100% 3pt
Malachi McNair (Fr, Forward) - 7 Pts | 10 Reb | 3 Ast
Coleman Sater (Sr, Forward) - 10 Pts | 7 Reb | 2 Ast