Mustangs Clipped Late by Central Methodist

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Mustang men's basketball team engaged in a hard-fought contest against Central Methodist on Saturday at the Hennessey Rec Center, ultimately falling by a slim margin, 80-78. The Heart of America Athletic Conference matchup featured nine ties and 18 lead changes, highlighting the intensity of the back-and-forth battle.

The Mustangs (2-13, 1-10 Heart) shot 42.6% from the field, including 32.1% from beyond the arc. Kaden Johnson led Mount Mercy with 18 points, going 7-for-9 from the free-throw line and securing six rebounds. Elijah Ward added 13 points and a team-high seven boards, while Aidan Yamilkoski chipped in 12 points, six assists, and seven rebounds.

Central Methodist (8-7, 5-6 Heart) countered with 22 points and 11 rebounds from Bol Tong, who shot an efficient 8-for-13 from the floor. Marcus Anthony contributed 18 points and three assists, while the Eagles connected on 50% of their field goal attempts, including eight three-pointers.

Mount Mercy trailed 37-36 at halftime but held a four-point lead with 3:22 remaining in the second half, thanks to a Yamilkoski layup. However, the Eagles regained control in the closing seconds when Tong's three-pointer with 19 seconds left proved to be the game-winner. A potential game-tying jumper by Johnson missed the mark at the buzzer.

The Mustangs won the turnover battle, forcing 16 giveaways while committing just 11, leading to 18 points off turnovers. However, Central Methodist capitalized on second-chance opportunities, outscoring Mount Mercy 7-2 in that category. Both teams' benches contributed, with the Mustangs narrowly edging the Eagles 18-16 in bench scoring.

Mount Mercy will return to action on Wednesday, traveling to Dubuque for a road matchup with Clarke, with tipoff slated for 7:30.