Comeback Hopes Fall Short as Mustangs Drop Game to Graceland

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Mustang men's basketball team saw their late game comeback hopes diminish as Graceland was able to pull away late, taking Thursday's contest, 84-75.

The Mustangs (3-20, 2-17 Heart) were paced on offense by Jaxson Fried who scored 25 points on 9-20 shooting. Fried would also lead the team in rebounds, with seven of them on the defensive end. Ahmad Ingram and Cameron Williams would each tack on 13 points, with Ingram shooting 6-11 from the floor while Williams drained three triples.

The Yellowjackets (20-3, 16-3 Heart) were led by Micah Lamberth, leading all scorers in the game with 27 points on 9-15 shooting. He would be joined in double figures by Maijhe Wiley, adding 12 in the win. Carson Busch and Darrius Davis would each nearly reach double figures, ending the game with nine points each.

The Yellowjackets were able to jump out to a red hot start, taking a 10-3 lead just over two minutes into the matchup. The momentum would carry on as Graceland was able to extend their lead to as much as 12 with just under 15 minutes to play in the opening half. The Mustangs were able to rally towards the end of the first half, as Fried would hit a triple to trim the Yellowjacket lead inside single digits heading into the half.

The Mustangs would trim the lead to four with under 17 minutes to play after Williams hit a midrange jumper. Williams would then connect on a triple with just under 15 minutes to play to cut the lead to one, while Ingram gave the Mustangs their first lead of the game at the 13:26 mark after hitting a layup. The Mustang lead would stretch to as much as five before Graceland would storm back, eventually retaking the lead at the 6:33 mark, which they would hold for the remainder of the game. The Mustangs would get the lead inside a single possession numerous times, but were unable to retake the lead.

The Mustangs will return to the court on Saturday, taking on sixth ranked Baker in Baldwin City, with tipoff slated for 2 p.m.