Mustangs advance to finals, clinch national tournament berth

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Sometimes it doesn't matter how long you're in the lead, but when you take over that matters. Despite leading for less than nine minutes the entire game, top-seeded Mount Mercy advanced to the finals of the Association of Independent Institutions Men's Basketball Championship with a 74-68 win over fifth-seeded Central Christian (Kan.) on Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

With 13:58 to go in the second half, the 17th-ranked Mustangs took their first lead since the 16-minute mark of the first period on a layup by Ben Struss. The lead continued to change hands for the next 11 minutes and the Tigers appeared to take control, 65-61, with just over three minutes remaining. But Mount Mercy scored the next 13 points and closed the game with a 13-3 run to put Central Christian away.

The win was huge for the Mustangs (24-7). Not only did it give them a berth in Sunday's A.I.I. final, it clinched a spot in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. It will be Mount Mercy's second consecutive trip to the national tournament and its third appearance in four years. York (Neb.), the Mustangs' opponent on Sunday, also earned an automatic bid to nationals. Central Christian and Washington Adventist (Md.) square off in the consolation game for the A.I.I.'s third and final berth in the national championship.

Alex Houston led another balanced Mount Mercy scoring effort with 16 points. Tre Wagner added 15 points, Chris Ford 11 and CJ Parker 10. Kyle Lamaak shared game-high honors with 10 boards. Houston grabbed nine and Parker six. Ford also finished with five assists.

Mount Mercy and York tip off at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at the U.S. Cellular Center.