Ravens Battle Past Fightin’ Engineers in Second Half

The Anderson University men's basketball team (16-8, 14-3) battled past Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (14-10, 11-6) by a score of 80-66 during Tuesday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) matchup in Terre Haute.

Anderson clinched a share of the HCAC regular-season title with the win. The Ravens can clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament, conference tournament hosting rights and the outright regular-season conference title in a winner-take-all matchup with rival Manchester University (15-9, 13-4) on Friday in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.

COACH CARTER COLLINS'S COMMENTS

• I'm not sure that I could be prouder of the guys than I am right now. I didn't feel like we played super well in the first half, and then Rose-Hulman started out the second half hot, and we were down by 9. From that point forward though, we really played outstanding basketball - on both ends of the court.
• We clinched a share of the title, and we'll celebrate that [on Tuesday] - it's a great accomplishment. But when we wake up in the morning, we'll turn our focus to our regular season finale - Senior Night - at home against Manchester on Friday evening at 7:30. We're hoping for a great crowd as we go for the outright title.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first half consisted five lead changes and four ties.
• Rose-Hulman held a 37-35 lead at halftime.
• The Fightin' Engineers opened the second half on a 7-0 run, taking a 44-35 lead with 18 minutes, 17 seconds to go.
• Anderson responded with an 8-0 run, which included five points from Elijah Mattingly. Mattingly hit a 3-pointer to cap the run, giving Anderson a 45-44 lead with 15:58 to go.
• Rose-Hulman pulls ahead by four, but the Ravens cut the deficit with 3-pointers from Fred Shropshire, Mattingly and Bryson Huckeby, giving Anderson a 54-52 lead with 10:06 to go.
• Willie Bowman hit two free throws for Rose-Hulman to tie the game at 54-54.
• Anderson broke away from the Fightin' Engineers with a 13-3 run, taking a 67-57 lead with 6:15 remaining.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Anderson caught fire shooting in the second half, draining 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) shots from the field and 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) attempts from the perimeter. Rose-Hulman was held to 33.3-percent (10-of-30) from the floor and 20-percent (2-of-10) from behind the arc.
• The Ravens knocked down 15 3-pointers, which ties for sixth in school history.
• Anderson drained 15-of-27 (55.6 percent) attempts from the perimeter while Rose-Hulman made 9-of-25 (36 percent) shots from behind the arc.
• The Ravens converted 27-of-49 (55.1 percent) shots from the floor while the Fightin' Engineers hit 24-of-61 (39.3 percent) attempts from the field.
• Anderson drained 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) attempts from the free-throw line while Rose-Hulman made 9-of-13 (69.2 percent) shots from the charity stripe.
• The Fightin' Engineers outscored the Ravens 17-6 on second-chance points.
• Bryson Huckeby – 21 Points, 5/6 (83.3%) 3FG, 7/9 (77.8%) FG
• Tate Ivanyo – 17 Points
• Elijah Mattingly – 16 Points, 9 Rebounds, 4 Blocks
• Camden Smith – 11 Points, 6 Assists
• Alex Hunt – 5 Points, 4 Steals
• Gavin Dowling – 4 Points
• Jordan Gadis – 3 Points
• Fred Shropshire – 3 Points

UP NEXT

In a winner-take-all battle for the HCAC regular-season title and No. 1 seed, first-place Anderson clashes with second-place Manchester in HCAC action on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.