Mustangs upset 13th-ranked Valor, get first league win

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Mount Mercy men's basketball team picked up their first league win on Saturday, outscoring 13th-ranked Evangel by 11 points in the second half to defeat the Valor, 74-65, in Heart of America Athletic Conference action at Ashcroft Center.

The victory snapped a four-game conference losing skid for the Mustangs and was Evangel's first Heart loss. That came after Mount Mercy trailed at the half, 33-31. The Mustangs improved to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Heart, while the Valor dropped to 9-2 and 4-1 in the league.

Mount Mercy's decisive second half included 53.8 percent shooting overall and a 13-of-19 performance at the free throw line. Evangel nearly matched the Mustangs at the foul line, going 12-of-20, but the Valor shot just 31 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes. Both teams finished with 15 turnovers but Mount Mercy out-rebounded Evangel, 44-35.

Rusmir Hamzic led all scorers with 22 points to go along with four rebounds. He was 9-of-14 from the floor and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Ryan Bartley had 17 points and four boards. Riley Pankey had a team-high nine rebounds, Anthony Horton, Jr. four assists, and Kenny Clay three steals.

Josh Pritchett's 15 points topped the Valor. Stephen Salvi added 13 points and nine rebounds, Bryce Hunt totaled eight points and eight boards.

Mount Mercy hosts a pair of league matchups next week. Clarke visits Hennessey Recreation Center on Thursday for a 7:30 pm tip, then Park is in Cedar Rapids on Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 2:00 pm.