Mustangs drop Saturday tilt with Bobcats

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- After earning a season sweep of William Penn on Thursday, Mount Mercy came into Saturday's Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup looking for a split with Peru State, but the Bobcats had other ideas and defeated the Mustangs, 81-59, at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Peru State finished 11-of-23 (47.8%) from 3-point range and 12-of-14 (85.7%) at the free throw line. Mount Mercy, on the other hand, shot just 33.3 percent from the floor overall and 21.9 percent beyond the arc. The Mustangs dipped to 6-12 on the season and 5-9 in the Heart while the Bobcats moved to 11-7 and 7-7 in conference play.

Ryan Bartley and Anthony Horton, Jr. were the lone Mustangs in double digits. Bartley finished with 18 points and Horton, Jr. 11. Horton, Jr. had a team-best three assists while Rusmir Hamzic led the way with eight rebounds.

Sayvon Traylor poured in a game-high 23 points and grabbed five rebounds. Ajantae Hogan scored 15 points off the bench. Carlos Hines and Amir Poat each had seven boards and Hines added four assists.

Mount Mercy has their fourth game in a week on Monday when the Mustangs go to Fayette, Mo., to face Central Methodist (15-2, 11-2 Heart) at 7:30 pm at Puckett Field House.