FAYETTE, Mo. - The short-handed Mount Mercy Mustangs came within 60 seconds of collecting a precious road victory Monday night.

Mount Mercy rallied from a 12-point deficit and took a 79-78 lead over Central Methodist on a 3-pointer by Mohammed Albagami with 1:04 remaining, but the Mustangs did not scored again.

Central Methodist scored the last eight points in the final 57 seconds and posted an 86-79 victory over the Mustangs in a Heart of America  Conference game.

Mount Mercy (9-8, 4-7) dropped its third straight outing, a streak that corresponds with Mychael Brawner-Henley (suspension) and Bailey Basala (sprained ankle) being out of action.

Dennis McKinney had a big game for the Mustangs with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Albagami finished with six 3-pointers and 20 points. Antwain Strong and Mike Evans scored 11 points apiece.

Terrance Bush scored 24 points with six 3-pointers for Central Methodist (12-5, 7-4).

MOUNT MERCY (79): McKinney 9 4-5 25, Albagami 7 0-0 20, Strong 4 3-4 11, Evans 5 1-2 11, Villagrana 2 0-0 5, Johnson 2 1-1 5, Reischauer 1 0-0 2, Kelley 0 0-0 0, Kehinde 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 9-12 79.

CENTRAL METHODIST (86): Bush 6 6-6 24, Robinson 3 5-5 12, Thurmond 5 0-0 10, Soderholm 4 2-2 10, Tutt 4 1-3 9, Locke 4 1-3 9, Sykes 2 1-4 7, Meny 2 0-0 5, Stegeman 0 0-0 0, Miles 0 0-0 0. Totals 30 16-23 86.

Halftime - Central Methodist 36, Mount Mercy 27. 3-point goals - Mount Mercy 10 (Albagami 6, McKinney 3, Villagrana 1), Central Methodist 10 (Bush 6, Sykes 2, Robinson 1, Meny 1)