Mustangs, Wildcats go down to the wire

CANTON, Mo. - For the second time in three games, the Mount Mercy men's basketball team came up just short in a Heart of America Athletic Conference clash. The Mustangs fell to Culver-Stockton (Mo.) 71-68 inside Charles Field House on Saturday night. 

The Mustangs jumped out to a 12-0 lead before the Wildcats connected on a trey at the 15:38 mark. Mount Mercy extended their lead to as many as 13, but Culver-Stockton would get within six at the half, 34-28. With just over 16 minutes remaining, the Wildcats took their first lead of the game, 42-41 and followed that up with a 10-1 run, forcing a Mustang timeout. The Mustangs scored 11 unanswered out of the timeout to retake the lead, 53-52.

Over the final eight minutes, there were seven lead changes and three ties. A jumper from Ryan Bartley gave Mount Mercy the 68-67 lead with 50 seconds to play. The Wildcats's Javon Modester hit a clutch shot out of timeout with just 22 seconds remaining. The Mustangs had a chance to win it, but Riley Pankey's shot didn't fall and Culver-Stockton escaped.

Mount Mercy (4-12, 1-10 Heart) shot 46.3 percent from the field including 35.6 percent from behind the arc, en route to 10 3-pointers, but Culver-Stockton (7-9, 3-8 Heart) eclipsed them, shooting 49.1 percent and 41.2 percent from long range. Bartley paced all players with 22. Rusmir Hamzic recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Landen Sullivan was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field, finishing with 11 points off the bench. Culver Stockton's Modester and Jalen Blaize each totaled 20 points. 

The Mustangs have a short turnaround as they host Grand View (4-12, 2-8 Heart) on Monday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 pm at Hennessey Rec. Center in their first of three Heart games next week.