Both Anderson University basketball teams are moving on in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament after hard-fought quarterfinal victories on Saturday at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium. The No. 1-seeded men’s team survived an upset bid to defeat No. 8 Manchester 72-65, while the No. 4-seeded women’s team secured a 63-58 win over No. 5 Franklin.
Anderson’s men started the game against the Spartans on the back foot, unable to create separation in the first half. Their offense struggled to sink shots early and Manchester’s sharp passing led to a 32-32 tie at halftime.
After the first half, the Ravens (21-5) were shooting 35 percent from the field. In the second half, Anderson shot 58 percent from the floor to halt the upset bid.
“We weren’t shooting the ball well, which just happens sometimes,” head coach Carter Collins said. “We had too many possessions where we weren’t getting the paint touch that we talked about to really make them pay.”
Collins said he encouraged the Ravens to take the time to find good shots and finish strong.
Coming into the second half, Anderson focused on attacking the paint and applying defensive pressure. Senior Tate Ivanyo took control, making crucial plays on both ends of the court, scoring 14 of his 20 points in the second half.
Ivanyo contributed five points to a 7-0 run seven minutes into the half, helping the Ravens pull ahead.
“Learning from the upperclassmen, especially my freshman and sophomore year,” Ivanyo said of taking a larger leadership role. “This senior year [I’m] doing a better job of leading the other guys and showing them the way we’re supposed to carry ourselves in this program.”
Manchester (10-16) stayed within reach, but Anderson’s defensive adjustments and key rebounds allowed them to control the final minutes. A late steal and fast break sealed the win, pushing the Ravens into the semifinals.
“We tried to jump things up a little bit, play a couple different defenses, do anything you can to slow those guys down,” Collins said. “I’m really proud of our guys on the mental side, being able to flip between two different defenses and on the physical side.”
Anderson’s men continue to approach a record championship run of three years. The Ravens will next square off with fourth-seeded Hanover (16-10) on Friday at 5 p.m. in O.C. Lewis Gymnasium. If the Ravens win, they will advance to the tournament championship game on Saturday, also being played at home. Should the Ravens win the tournament, it will be their third consecutive HCAC crown and secure them an automatic bid in the upcoming NCAA Division III Tournament, which would also be a third consecutive berth for the program.
The AU women’s basketball team battled Franklin in a physical contest, keeping their postseason hopes alive with a strong fourth quarter. Anderson’s ball movement and defensive pressure made the difference late, helping them pull away for the 74-61 win.
The Ravens (13-12) were powered by 26 points from Izzy Davis, equaling her career high.
“I’m super proud of this team. We were a little too fired up to start this game after a big win from our men’s basketball team, but we settled in and dug ourselves out of a hole,” head coach Jon Gin said in comments published on the AU Athletic Department website. “We shared the ball really well on offense and we made everything tough on defense. I think this was our best performance as a team all year and tourney time is when you want to be playing your best basketball.”
The women’s team will travel to Lexington, Ky., for a showdown at 5 p.m. Friday against HCAC top seed Transylvania (20-5).