Automatic bid into the NCAA Division III National Tournament, sixth national tournament game for the program
For the third straight season, the Hanover men's basketball team can call itself the undisputed champion of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, as the Panthers defeated Transylvania in the tournament championship game Sunday afternoon, inside Collier Arena, 76-73.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 21-6 overall and secure the HCAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III National Tournament. When HC tips off next week it will be the sixth national tournament game for the program in the past three seasons, a run highlighted by a trip to the Elite Eight in 2016-17. Hanover's win also marks just the third time in program history they have won three postseason conference tournaments in a four-year span and the second three-peat of the HCAC era, with the other run coming from 2003 to 2005.
Hanover will now wait to find out what its future holds in terms of the NCAA Division III tournament. The Panthers' fate will be decided with the national selection show, which is scheduled to air on NCAA.com at 12:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25.
Watch the complete game again with WIKI's Larry Duke and Rob Lafary on the call:
Local Sports for March 25, 2025
