(RV) Ravens Soar Past Hanover, Advances to HCAC Championship

The top-seeded Anderson University men's basketball team secured a decisive 84-69 victory over fourth-seeded Hanover College in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) semifinals on Friday at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.

Anderson (22-5) entered Friday's game, receiving votes in the latest D3hoops.com poll.

Bryce Williams and the Ravens came out of the gate quickly, taking a 14-5 lead into the first media timeout. The Panthers (16-11) responded, bringing the game back within one eight minutes later. Both teams went shot-for-shot over the final seven and a half minutes of the half, with the biggest lead being 5 points, which Anderson took into the break at 42-37.

Tate Ivanyo led the Ravens with 10 points and six rebounds in the half. Both teams shot over 50 percent in the first half (Anderson, 15-of-30, and Hanover, 15-of-29). 

Coming out of halftime, Anderson kept the Panthers just outside of striking distance for 10 minutes, until an 8-0 run with Hanover's William Herald back-to-back 3-pointers, and Malachi McNair made a layup with nine and a half minutes left to tie the game at 59.  

After a quick 30-second timeout, the Ravens wasted no time taking back their lead. Rob Davidson hit a 3-pointer, Bryce Williams got in on the action with a steal and fast-break layup, and then Tate Ivanyo made a layup to get the lead back to seven, 66-59, with eight minutes remaining. 

Hanover got the game back within three minutes before the Ravens caught fire and went on an 18-6 run over the last seven minutes, which was capped off by a deep Ivanyo 3-pointer.

"I was pleased with the squad's effort [on Friday], particularly with our defensive rebounding during the last ten minutes of the game, where we were finally able to pull away a bit," Coach Carter Collins said. "We got big offensive contributions from a lot of different places, which is always good to see. We don't have any sort of time to celebrate this one, as we need to immediately turn our focus to the Conference Championship game on Saturday at 5 p.m." 

Ivanyo led the Ravens with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and shooting 50 percent (8-of-16), earning his sixth Double-Double of the season. Ivanyo's 1,737 career points moves into 3rd All-Time, passing Kurt Moreillon '79 (1,733). Axel Laby hit all four of his 3-point attempts, ending with 13 points, a season-high.

Three other Ravens reached double-digit points, including Rob Davidson (12), Kenney Troutman (12), and Bryce Williams (12). Williams was once again a big distributor, gathering five assists. 

The Ravens converted 13 Panther Turnovers into 21 points, compared to the Panthers scoring 10 points off of 11 Raven turnovers. Anderson led the game for over 39 minutes and did not allow Hanover a single lead. 

Anderson shot 50.9 percent from the field (29-of-57), and Hanover hit 46.6 percent (27-of-58).

Beyond the arc proved to be a difference maker as the Ravens went 47.8 percent (11-of-23), while holding the Panthers to 29.2 percent (7-of-24). 

At the charity stripe, Anderson outshot Hanover, hitting 15-of-21 (71.4 percent), compared to their 8-of-10 (80 percent).

Coleman Sater led the Panthers with 12 points, hitting all eight of his shots (four from the field and four at the free-throw line) and eight rebounds.

The Ravens (22-5) now set their sights on the HCAC Championship game, where they will take on second-seeded Franklin College (20-7) on Saturday at 5 p.m. in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium.