ATCHISON, Kan. - The Mount Mercy men's basketball team gave seventh-ranked Benedictine a good battle Saturday before falling, 97-90, in a Heart of America Conference game.

The Mustangs took a 67-66 lead on a 3-pointer by Christian Reischauer with 11:22 remaining and trailed by only a single point, 77-76, with 8:30 left in the game.

Dennis McKinney scored 26 points for Mount Mercy (10-9, 5-8). DJ Johnson poured in a career-best 21 points with four 3-pointers off the bench. Antwain Strong had 13 points and five assists.

The Mustangs played again without Bailey Basala (ankle) and Mychael Brawner-Henley (suspension).

Adam Kutney had 28 points and 10 rebounds for Benedictine (17-2, 13-0). Eric Krus collected 20 points. The hosts beat Mount Mercy on the backboards, 38-24.

MOUNT MERCY (90): McKinney 8 7-8 26, Evans 4 1-2 9, Strong 3 5-6 13, Villagrana 3 0-0 7, Albagami 1 5-6 8, Reischauer 2 0-0 6, Johnson 6 5-5 21, Kehinde 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 23-27 90.

BENEDICTINE (97): Kutney 8 10-11 28, Krus 7 3-3 20, Bristol 3 1-1 7, O'Connor 5 0-2 13, Nickels 5 1-2 12, Wallrapp 1 1-1 3, Jackson 2 2-2 7, Harrison 0 0-0 0, Temme 2 2-2 7, Thuston 0 0-0 0. Totals 33 20-24 97.

Halftime - Mount Mercy 45, Benedictine 43. 3-point goals - Mount Mercy 13 (Johnson 4, McKinney 3, Strong 2, Reischauer 2, Villagrana 1, Albagami 1), Benedictine 11 (O'Connor 3, Krus 3, Kutney 2, Nickels 1, Jackson 1, Temme 1).