KALAMAZOO, MICH. – Manchester University placed three players in double figures as part of a 67-61 win over in-state rival trine University Friday, Nov. 22.
The win closed the Spartans' appearance in the 2013 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference – Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Challenge. MU (1-4) began the two-day event with a hard-fought 93-87 loss at the hands of host and unbeaten Kalamazoo College Nov. 21.
Coach Brad Nadborne's squad got out to another strong start on successive nights. A stingy defensive effort, allowing the Thunder (1-1) just one shot attempt on many possessions, helped the Black and Gold zoom out to a 19-8 lead nearly 12 minutes in.
Trine battled back to 28-20 at the break and continued their surge in the second stanza, moving to within two in the early stages. However, the Spartans proved resilient themselves and moved the lead back out to as much as 12. TU did make one more charge in the waning moments, whittling their disadvantage to as little as two with 49 seconds left, but four consecutive free throws from junior guard Grant Newlin (Muncie, Ind.) and freshman guard Blake Brouwer (Elkhart, Ind.), coupled with a big blocked shot on a Trine three-point attempt from sophomore forward Jarod Schrock (Logansport, Ind.), slated the game away.
Brouwer and fellow freshman guard Chase Casteel (Monrovia, Ind.) joined junior forward Caleb Jackson (New Castle, Ind.) in scoring double figures with 10 points each. Brouwer, as part of an active evening on the court inside Kalamazoo College's Anderson Athletic Center, dished out three assists and blocked two Thunder shot tries. Casteel drained three long balls as part of his 10-point effort.
Manchester University opens a set of back-to-back home games Tuesday, Nov. 26, with its third straight contest against the MIAA. Calvin College of Grand Rapids, Mich., visits Stauffer-Wolfe Arena for an 8 p.m. tip-off.