Yellowjackets hold off Mustang comeback

LAMONI, Iowa -- After trailing Graceland by as many as 20 points early in the second half, Mount Mercy made a furious comeback that came up short in Wednesday's 83-76 Heart of America Athletic Conference defeat at the Morden Center.

Down 57-37 with 14 minutes to go, the Mustangs used a 14-2 run over the next four minutes to get within 59-51. Mount Mercy was as close as four, 80-76, after Landen Sullivan's layup with 36 seconds to go before the Yellowjackets closed it out at the free throw line. The Mustangs dropped to 6-16 overall and 5-13 in the Heart while Graceland moved to 17-5 and 14-4 in league play.

Rusmir Hamzic led the Mustangs with 20 points. Aidan Yamilkoski buried five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. Ryan Bartley added 17 points while Anthony Horton, Jr. totaled 13 points, six rebounds, and a game-high six assists.

Austin Braun's 25 points led all scorers. Darrius Davis had 13 points, Aleksa Markovic 10 and Patrick Fisher pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for Graceland.

Mount Mercy takes on Park on Saturday at 2:00 pm at Breckon Sports Center in Parkville, Mo.