Mustangs pick up big road win

ATCHISON, Kan. - The Mount Mercy men's basketball team earned their third Heart of America Conference road win on Saturday afternoon, defeating Benedictine (Kan.) 70-67 at Ralph Nolan Gymnasium. 

Cole Hrubes opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers and then Rusmir Hamzic drained one of his own as well as a jumper, giving Mount Mercy a quick 11-2 lead. The Ravens didn't reach double-digit points until the 13:04 mark, but Benedictine closed the gap to three, 31-28, with just over two minutes until the break. Hrubes ended the first half with his third long ball, keeping the Mustangs in front 35-30. 

Kyle Kelley's 3-pointer put Mount Mercy up 59-41 with 10:27 to play. However, the Mustangs would cool off as the Ravens held Mount Mercy to just seven points in the final eight minutes. In that time span, Benedictine was able to get back in the game, down just three with 32 seconds to play. Mount Mercy committed a turnover and missed a free throw, but back-to-back missed field goals from Benedictine allowed the Mustangs' lead to prevail despite going cold down the stretch. 

Mount Mercy (6-17, 3-15 Heart) shot 55.3 percent from the field including 40.0 percent from behind the arc. Benedictine (11-13, 9-9 Heart) shot it a 39.0 percent clip and was only 23.5 percent from long range. Three Mustangs finished in double figures, led by Ryan Bartley with 21. Jakari Bradely scored 15 points and Hrubes 14. Hamzic and Kelley each added eight. 

The Mustangs host Culver-Stockton (Mo.) (8-15, 4-14 Heart) on Wednesday, Feb. 8 in a Heart matchup. Tip-off comes your way at 7:30 pm at Hennessey Rec. Center.