By GREG MENGELT

OLIVET, Mich. — Hanover nearly erased an 11-point deficit in the final 2 minutes but came up short in a 91-87 loss at Olivet (Mich.) on Tuesday evening.

The Panthers cut the deficit to 89-87 with 5 seconds left, but Olivet senior Eddie Thigpen, who had a game-high 26 points, knocked down a pair of free throws to help the Comets improve to 3-4 on the season.

Hanover is now 7-2 and returns to Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play Wednesday when it hosts Mount St. Joseph (4-5) at 7:30 p.m. It’s the Panthers’ first home game after four straight on the road.

Sophomore guard Max Greenamoyer (Zionsville/University) led the Panthers with 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting. His 5 rebounds also tied senior guard Isaac Hibbard (New Albany) for team-high honors.

Junior forward Ty Houston (Union, Ky./Cooper) had 15 points and sophomore forward Matt Munoz (Indianapolis/Southport) added 14. Hibbard finished with 5 points and 3 assists to go with his 5 rebounds. He was 1 for 6 front the floor in the loss. Former Christian Academy star Noah Williams (Jeffersonville) finished with 5 points and 2 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Brice Gilman (Clinton/South Vermillion) had 9 points off the Panther bench.