Hot-shooting Valor hand Mustangs a Senior Day loss

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mount Mercy men's basketball season came to end Saturday afternoon as 24th-ranked Evangel (Mo.) defeated them 87-59 at Hennessey Rec Center in a Heart of America Athletic Conference contest. It was also Senior Day for the Mustangs. Managers, Olivia Vander Sanden and Wyatt Peterson were recognized as were Kenny Clay, Kobe Grieder, Andrew Stewart, and Cody Westcott. Graduate Assistant Jacob Perks was also honored before the game. 

Grieder hit a 3-pointer to get the scoring started for Mount Mercy. A Ryan Bartley jumper brought the Mustangs within one 24-23, but the Valor proved why they are ranked by going on a 26-5 run over the final nine minutes of the half. Mount Mercy played an even second half with Evangel, only being outscored by six. 

The Valor beat the Mustangs at their own game, knocking down 10 3-pointers on 38.5 percent shooting from behind the arc. Mount Mercy shot 20.7 percent from deep (6-for-29). The Mustangs did tally 14 assists on 19 field goals, three apiece coming from Bartley and Cole Hrubes. 

Barltey and Evangel's Josh Pritchett each paced all players with 17 points. Grieder added a career-high 10 and Hrubes chipped in nine. Caden Schroeder and Anthony Horton, Jr. each had five rebounds. Mount Mercy finishes the season 7-20, 4-18 in the Heart of America.