PHOTOS

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Earlham College men's basketball team came from 17 points down to take a late lead, but sophomore Darrell Hutchison's potential game-winning jumper fell just short as Hanover College escaped Schuckman Court with a 59-58 win on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers, who sit atop the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) at 6-0, got out to a 33-16 lead late in the first half behind four triples from junior Wes McKinney. Trailing by 17, the Quakers ended the half on a high note as freshman Thomas Sanborn hit a three-pointer and sophomore Nick Sands converted an old-fashioned three-point play to end the half.

Hanover led 33-22 at halftime, but Earlham carried its momentum into the second half by scoring the first seven points. Leading just 33-29, the Panthers scored seven points of their own and led 40-29 with 12:21 to play in regulation.

Back-to-back triples from Sanborn and Sands got the Quakers within five, and after a free throw from Hanover, sophomore Alex Topalovic nailed a three-pointer and Sands hit two free throws to cut the Panthers' lead to a single point (43-42).

Hanover stretched its lead back to eight points (50-42), but Earlham responded with a 9-1 run capped by a three-pointer from freshman Kenneth Stalling Jr. tied the game 51-51 with 5:02 to play.

After a free throw from Hanover, Stalling Jr. converted a layup, giving the Quakers their first lead (53-52) since the first basket of the game. Cam Fails hit a three-pointer to put the Panthers up two, but another Sands layup tied the game 55-55 with 2:41 to play.

Hanover scored on consecutive possessions to lead by four, but a three-pointer from freshman Blake Bonin cut the Panther lead to a point. Earlham got a stop on the next possession, but could not convert on the final possession.

Sands and Hutchison combined for 25 points to lead the Quakers in scoring. Stalling Jr. added eight points and six rebounds.

McKinney tallied 19 points for Hanover while senior Corey Muchmore added 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Both teams shot over 44 percent from the field and made 10 free throws. Earlham made eight three-pointers while Hanover had five. The Panthers won the rebounding battle 31-28.

The Quakers held the Panthers, the top scoring team in the HCAC, to more the 28 points under their scoring average (87.5 PPG) per game.

Earlham continues a three-game home stand on Wednesday against Defiance College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.