Mustangs Drop Tight Contest Against Grand View

DES MOINES, Iowa — In a nail-biter that saw the lead change hands multiple times, Mount Mercy fell to Grand View 88-83 on Saturday.

Mount Mercy jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, sparked by Aiden Price's free throws at the 18:01 mark. Grand View quickly answered back, with Lukas Helms sinking a three-pointer at 17:03 to keep things tight. As the first half progressed, the teams traded leads, with Jaxson Fried's layup and subsequent free throw putting the Mustangs ahead 22-20 with 11:11 on the clock. The Mustangs edged into halftime with a narrow 44-43 lead, courtesy of a late layup by Fried at 2:10.

The second half saw Mount Mercy and Grand View in a tug-of-war for control. The Mustangs built a substantial 13-point lead by the 10:33 mark, driven by Brayson Laube's steady scoring, including a layup and free throw at 13:03. Yet, Grand View fought back, taking a 3-point lead with 52 seconds left after a layup by O'Shawn Jones-Winslow. Price's late layup gave Mount Mercy hope, but Helms sealed the deal for Grand View with two clutch free throws in the closing seconds, finalizing the score at 88-83.

Laube led the Mustangs with 23 points, going 8 of 13 from the field and 7 of 8 from the line. Price chipped in 13 points, excelling at the line with 11 of 14, and pulled down seven rebounds. Fried added 14 points, hitting 4 of 12 from the field and 6 of 7 from the line, along with four rebounds. Caden Schroeder shot perfectly from deep, contributing 12 points on four 3-pointers.

For Grand View, Helms was top scorer with 22 points, including two 3-pointers, adding five rebounds and three steals. Jones-Winslow put up 12 points, shooting an impressive 6-for-7 from the field. Rodell Davis Jr. added 14 points, sinking four 3-pointers, and Joe Knutson rounded out the effort with eight points, hitting two 3-pointers and grabbing five rebounds.

Next up, the Mustangs will host Culver-Stockton on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Cedar Rapids.