Second-half surge carries Mustangs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Brilliant shooting and a 55-point second half carried the Mount Mercy men's basketball team to their third victory in four games, a 98-72 defeat of 23rd-ranked Columbia in Tuesday's non-conference action at Hennessey Recreation Center.

The Mustangs have scored at least 90 points three times during their four-game homestand, winning all three. In those wins, they've shot better than 50 percent from the field. On Tuesday, they connected on 56.9 percent of their shots overall and were 57.7 percent (15-of-26) from 3-point range.

Ryan Bartley and Rusmir Hamzic each had 28 points and nine rebounds for the Mustangs. Bartley was 9-of-13 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, while Hamzic finished 10-of-13 overall and 4-of-6 from three. Aidan Yamilkoski chipped in 12 points on four treys. Anthony Horton, Jr. added nine points and dished out a career-high 13 assists.

Collin Parker was the lone Cougar in double figures with 21 points to go along with seven rebounds. Trendon Tisdale and Harrison Vickers had nine points each, Marlon Allen seven for Columbia (7-3).

Mount Mercy (3-6, 2-3 Heart) will be looking for their first road win this weekend at MidAmerica Nazarene (4-2, 3-1 Heart). The Mustangs and Pioneers resume Heart of America Athletic Conference play on Saturday at 2:00 pm at Cook Center in Olathe, Kan.