Box Score RICHMOND, Ind. — A difficult beginning on Wednesday was too much for the Earlham men's basketball team to overcome as they fell 72-63 to Manchester College on Schuckman Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center.

The Quakers got behind 15-2 in their Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference opener before they were able to respond against the Spartans (3-1, 1-0), who were ranked No. 25 in d3hoops.com's pre-season poll.

"We were a little flat and Manchester was on top of its game the first six or seven minutes," Earlham Head Coach Jeff Justus said. "We battled and even had a chance to cut the deficit to three points in the second half."

In the first period, the Quakers eventually cut the deficit to six points four times with the last coming at the 6:04 mark when Marcus Bledsoe (Indianapolis, IN, Ritter) scored to make it 27-21. Unfortunately for the Quakers, the Spartans finished the half with a 19-6 run to lead 46-27 at intermission.

Manchester's large advantage didn't last in the second half as the Quakers again trimmed the lead to 53-47 with 10:18 remaining in the contest when Colton Bragg (Richmond, IN, Richmond) scored.

However, the Quakers couldn't get any closer as they came up empty on their next two possessions after stopping the Spartans. Manchester followed with a basket and from that point the Spartans were able to keep the Quakers from coming back.

Bledsoe led the Quakers with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Josh Green (Campbellsburg, IN, West Washington) finished with 17 points, six rebounds and a team-high five assists.

Bragg tossed in 12 points and Justin Barger (Ellettsville, IN, Edgewood) contributed eight points.

Next up for Earlham (1-4, 0-1) is a visit to Franklin College on Saturday. The HCAC contest against the Grizzlies starts at 3 p.m. 

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