Behind its best offensive output in the Jon Miller era, the Hanover men’s basketball team earned coach Miller his 200th career victory, with a 118-65 win over Ohio State-Lima in the Defiance Purple & Gold Financial Invitational.
Miller’s head coaching career began at Defiance during the 2003-04 season, as he earned his first collegiate coaching victory against Grace on Nov. 22, 2003, and his 200th win came at Defiance as well, just over 13 years later. Overall, Miller has a career coaching record of 200-151, a .570 winning percentage.
The win also marks Hanover’s sixth straight victory, as they improve to 9-1 overall. The 10-game start is the best beginning for HC under Miller’s guidance, and the first 9-1 start for the Blue and Red since the 2003-04 campaign.
Hanover nearly tied the program’s all-time scoring record of 127 points, which was set back in 1969. The Panthers shot .644 (47-73) from the field, setting a new season high, while also making 13-of-27 three point attempts.
Overall, 13 of the 15 players that appeared in the contest for HC scored, while eight different players scored at least seven points against the Barons.
Senior Corey Muchmore (Cincinnati, Ohio) paced the Panthers with 22 points on a perfect 11-for-11 shooting. Muchmore nearly tied a school record for most made field goals without a miss, as Marc O’Leary was a perfect 12-of-12 from the field versus Westminster back in 2006. The senior added six rebounds as well to lead the team.
Freshman Logan Ratts (Martinsville, Ind.) poured in 15 points in 20 minutes of action. Ratts also dished out a career high eight assists to lead HC, while grabbing four rebounds as well. Junior Colin Smith (Cincinnati, Ohio) added five helpers, giving him five assists in each of the past three games.
Off the bench, freshman Zach Anderson (Martinsville, Ind.) scored a career high 15 points, all of which came from behind the arc, where he was 5-of-8 shooting. Classmate Kevin Williams (Edinburgh, Ind.) and sophomore Lucas Miller (Clarksville, Ind.) each added nine points off the bench as well.
A pair of juniors in Levi Buck (Pendleton, Ind.) and Wes McKinney (Batesville, Ind.) each scored 11 points in the starting lineup.
Freshman Jackson Crawford (Cold Springs, Ky.) scored seven points off the bench, on 3-of-5 shooting, while classmate Blake Robertson (Greenfield, Ind.) recorded five points and four assists.
The Panthers controlled the glass, logging a 38-25 advantage in total rebounds. Hanover also committed a season low seven turnovers, while forcing the Barons into 19 giveaways.
Hanover has now scored at least 100 points three times during the Miller era, but the 118 points against the Barons marked the first time HC has done so in regulation. The 68 first half points for the Blue and Red also marked a new season high.
The Panthers will return to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play next week, but will stay on the road, as they travel to Rose-Hulman for a 7:30 p.m. tip on Wednesday, Jan. 4.
