HANOVER, Ind. – The Franklin College men's basketball team made their second trip to Collier Arena this season on Thursday (Jan. 28) night to take on the Hanover Panthers in the third of four meetings between the long-time rivals.

The Grizzlies (3-4) and Panthers (3-2) went back-and-forth all night long with four lead changes and five ties exchanged throughout the night. Franklin held a lead in the final two minutes but went without a field goal over the game's final 1:52 while Hanover poured in the game's final five points to take a 70-65 win.

Franklin opened the contest with an 8-2 run, holding the Panthers to a single field goal over the game's first five minutes. The Panthers would find their stroke on offense shortly after, but the Grizzlies had the hot hand as a team over the final 15 minutes of the first half.

Franklin's lead grew to as many as seven in the opening half and thanks to a Ryan Wiggins three late in the period, the Grizzlies headed into the locker room with a 34-27 lead. The Grizzlies shot 57.1% (16-for-28) from the field in the opening half, pouring in 24 points in the paint to 10 for the Panthers.

The start of the second half saw Hanover get right back into the game with an 11-2 run that gave the hosts the lead for the first time since the game's opening minute. Franklin responded with an 13-4 run of their own to take a 49-42 lead with 11 minutes to play, and the Grizzly lead would stay at multiple possessions until the game's final five minutes.

A 10-2 Hanover Run gave the hosts a lead with three minutes to play, but Franklin got within a point at 65-64 with 1:52 to play after a Sam Gutierrez jumper. But it proved to be the final field goal of the game for the Grizzlies as Hanover closed things out on the defensive end.

Gutierrez led all players with 18 points, going 8-for-14 from the field. Danny Goggans had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Ryan Wiggins set a career-high with 12 points off the bench. Ismail Jones added 11 points and a career-high six assists for the Grizzlies, who shot 42.6% (26-for-61) from the floor.

Franklin and Hanover will tangle for the final time this year on Saturday (Jan. 30), when they meet in the Spurlock Center for a noon tip-off.