Box Score
Manchester College used a mid-second half scoring spree, scoring from inside, outside and at the free throw line, to build a lead over the Mount in a close game en route to a 72-63 win today. The Lions drop to 6-11 overall, 2-8 in the HCAC and will be back in action on Jan. 25 when they host Hanover College.
The Mount led 27-23 at the intermission, thanks in part to connecting on 10-of-20 shots, including six three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes of play. The Lions overcame a 22-21 deficit with 1:39 to play in the first half with three-point baskets by Clifford Cass (Cincinnati, OH/Mt. Healthy) and David Lane (Hamilton, OH/Ross).
Cass helped the Mount build their halftime lead to five points at both the 14:29 and 13:28 marks of the second half, only to see the Spartans fight back to notch the game's seventh tie, 47-all with 9:58 to play in the game. Manchester would push their lead to 59-47 over the next 3:29, scoring from three-point range, in the lane and at the free throw line. The Lions would continued to fight down the stretch, getting the deficit down to seven points with 3:20 to play and 67-60 with 2:07 left after a basket by Andy Countryman (Peebles, OH/Peebles), but would get no closer. Lane made a lay-up with 48 seconds left to make the score 70-63.
The Spartans out-shot the Mount, 55 to 47 percent from the field, and held a 30-23 lead in rebounds. The Mount connected on 13-of-25 three-point field goal attempts. David Mann (Fairfield, OH/Cincinnati Christian) and Countryman led the Mount with 19 points each, while Mann added six rebounds and three assists. Lane chipped in 14 points and seven assists, while Cass finished with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.
