The Mount Mercy men's basketball team has a nice melting pot of players on the squad this year.

There are guys from Chicago, a pair from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, a shooter from Australia, a versatile player from Brazil and six guys from Iowa, including a quartet from Cedar Rapids Kennedy.

It's an effective mix and they produced an 82-67 victory over Luther in a non-conference game at the Hennessey Recreation Center Saturday afternoon.

Alex Houston, a 6-foot-4 forward from Chicago, led the charge for Mount Mercy (12-3) with 16 points and nine rebounds. James Boonstoppel, the shooter from Australia, popped in two 3-pointers during a 12-0 run as the Mustangs broke things open in the second half.

Kyle Lamaak, one of the Kennedy grads who joined the Mustangs this season after two years as a regular student at Northern Iowa, muscled in 11 points in 16 minutes despite operating with a sore ankle. Matos, a 6-5 senior from Brazil, showed his versatility with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Dondre Osborne (Zion, Ill.) and Ben Struss (Kennedy) scored eight points apiece.

"Considering we hadn't played in three weeks and had been practicing for only three or four days, I was pleased," said Mount Mercy Coach Paul Gavin. "I knew it wouldn't be easy."

The Mustangs like to run and play an up-tempo game, but Luther likes to slow it down and look for 3-pointers. "We finally wore them down a little bit," said Gavin.

Mount Mercy had trouble shaking the Norse, who stayed in the game by sinking fifteen 3-pointers in 35 attempts. The Mustangs led 61-52 when Boonstoppel got hot and scored eight points in a 12-0 run, sparking the Mustangs to a 73-52 advantage and sealing the game.

Boonstoppel began the 12-0 surge with a 3-pointer to make it 64-52. Houston made two free throws for a 66-52 lead, then Boonstoppel hit another triple for a 69-52 bulge. Boonstoppel then made a layup on a nice feed from Kennedy grad Jake Misener to make it 71-52, and John Johnson finished the 12-0 run with a layup for the 21-point cushion at 73-52.

Boonstoppel had been quiet until erupting during the pivotal stretch.

"That's what he's capable of doing," said Gavin. "He's really capable of scoring a lot in short bursts. He's got a knack.

"He can score like nobody else we've coached in quite awhile. He's a nice addition."

The Mustangs have compiled their 12-3 record with a stiff non-conference schedule. They are receiving votes in the NAIA national poll and will open the Midwest Collegiate Conference season at Clarke Wednesday night.

"I'm very pleased," said Gavin. "But I don't want to look backwards, I want to look forward now."

Mount Mercy guard Da'Quan Moore did not play Saturday. He will be sidelined a few weeks with a wrist injury, according to Gavin.

Jake Martin and Cody Kliethermes led Luther (4-7) with 15 points apiece.

LUTHER (67): Huber 0 2-2 2, Woolems 00-2 0, Meyer 3 0-0 9, Matthias 1 0-0 2, Martin 5 2-2 15, Austin 2 0-0 5, Palmer 0 0-0 0, Wilkins 1 2-3 4, Schultz 0 0-1 0, Kliethermes 5 0-0 15, Stafford 1 0-0 2, Lembezeder 2 0-0 5, C. Wright 3 0-1 8, L. Wright 0 0-0 0, Dickey 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 6-11 67.

MOUNT MERCY (82): Houston 5 6-6 16, Osborne 4 0-1 8, Matos 5 0-0 10, Misener 1 0-0 3, Struss 4 0-0 8, Goines Jr. 1 0-0 3, Boonstoppel 4 0-0 11, Murdock 1 0-0 2, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Price-Majors 1 4-6 6, Lamaak 5 1-3 11, Clark 1 0-0 2, Gogg 0 0-0 0. Totals 33 11-16 82.

Halftime - Mount Mercy 35, Luther 26. 3-point goals - Luther 15 (Kliethermes 5, Meyer 3, Martin 3, C. Wright 2, Austin 1, Lembezeder 1), Mount Mercy 5 (Boonstoppel 3, Miseneer 1, Goines Jr. 1).