Mustangs
halt two-game skid
Posted
11/28/07 7:56 AM
Brandon Barnhart |
Brett McGee |
CEDAR RAPIDS,
Iowa -- After relinquishing a 14-point lead in the second half,
the Mount Mercy College men's basketball team hung on to defeat
Culver-Stockton College (Mo.), 72-69, in non-conference action
on Tuesday at Hennessey Recreation Center.
The Mustangs
(6-3), who led by six at halftime, took their largest lead of
the game at 54-40 on senior forward Curtis Kilgore's bucket with
12:18 to go. Jordan Harris nailed a 3-pointer to cap off a Wildcat
push that gave the visitors a 67-65 lead with 4:05 remaining.
It was the first lead for Culver-Stockton since the 16:54 mark
of the first period.
The Wildcats
(2-5) held a 69-67 advantage with under two minutes to go until
junior forward Brandon Barnhart knocked down a triple to put Mount
Mercy in front for good with 42 seconds on the clock. He added
a pair of free throws with five seconds to go and Culver-Stockton's
potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer was just off the
mark as the Mustangs ended a two-game losing streak.
Barnhart and
senior forward Brett McGee shared team-high honors with 18 points
each. Kilgore joined them in double figures with 13, while senior
center Steve Smith added nine points off the bench. Smith also
grabbed eight rebounds to lead Mount Mercy to a 42-26 advantage
on the boards. Kilgore snared seven rebounds, Barnhart six, and
McGee five. McGee and senior guard Dillon Allen each collected
four assists and three steals.
Harris finished
with five 3-point goals and a game-high 19 points for the Wildcats.
Brice Fantazia chipped in 14 points, TJ Nettles 13. Coy Bainter
led Culver-Stockton in rebounding with five, while Nettles dished
out a game-high seven assists.
Mount Mercy
opens Midwest Collegiate Conference play on Saturday against Iowa
Wesleyan College at 3:00 p.m. at Hennessey. Next week, the Mustangs
head over to Mount Vernon, Iowa, to take on Cornell College in
non-conference action on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7:00 p.m.
