By GREG MENGELT

BLUFFTON, Ohio — Hanover pulled away from host Bluffton (Ohio) in the second half to stay on top of the Heartland Conference with a 67-57 victory Saturday evening at the Sommer Center.

The Panthers shot 50 percent from the field (27 of 54) and won for their sixth straight game.

Trailing 40-38 early in the second half, Hanover (13-2, 9-1 HCAC) went on a 16-6 run to take control of the contest. The Panthers increased the lead to 66-53 with 1:47 left after a 3-pointer by junior forward Ty Houston (Union, Ky./Cooper).

The Panthers were led by sophomore forward Matt Munoz (Indianapolis/Southport), who had a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Houston added 13 points and senior guard Isaac Hibbard (New Albany) contributed 10 points, four rebounds and four assists to the victory. Senior guard Noah Williams, a Christian Academy graduate, scored six points by going 2 for 2 from behind the 3-point arc.

Senior guard Jameel Cosby led Bluffton with 18 points. Junior guard Kegan Owen (Indianapolis/Greenwood) added 14 points off the Beavers’ bench.

The Panthers will try to make it seven in a row Wednesday when they host Rose-Hulman at 7:30 p.m. Hanover defeated the Fightin’ Engineers 73-66 on Dec. 15 in Terre Haute.