Mt. Mercy Men's Basketball

Mustang men falter at Benedictine

ATCHISON, Kan. - The Mount Mercy men's basketball team surrendered 63  points in the second half Saturday and lost to Benedictine, 101-65, in  a Heart of America Conference game at the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium.

The setback dropped the Mustangs to 12-12 overall and 7-11 in the  league. Benedictine raised its marks to 14-11 overall and 12-6 in the  conference with an incredible shooting performance at home.

Dennis McKinney led Mount Mercy with 15 points. Bailey Basala added 11 points.

Jayden Temme scored 26 points for Benedictine, leading five players  into double figures. The winners scorched the nets, hitting 38 of 54  shots for 70.4 percent. They were 23 of 27 in the second half and 18  for 27 on 3-pointers in the game.

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Basala stars as Mustangs top Graceland

Time and opportunity are slipping away for the Mount Mercy Mustangs as  they chase a spot in the Heart of America Conference playoffs, but  they won't go down without a fight.

They showed it Wednesday night.

Mount Mercy collected a crucial victory over Graceland, 93-84, in a  conference game at the Hennessey Recreation Center to keep their hopes  alive.

Bailey Basala led the way with five 3-pointers and 26 points as all  five starters scored in double figures. Davion Watson netted 18  points, Dennis McKinney 15, RoyShawn Webb 14 and Streeter McIlravy 13.

Graceland walloped Mount Mercy in their first meeting, 107-77, in late  November, but the Mustangs had the right answer this time.

The Mustangs, once 4-10 in the Heart of America Conference standings,  raised their record to 7-10 with their third straight victory while  averaging 99.3 points per game.

Only eight teams will make the conference playoffs in the 13-team  league. The Mustangs sit in ninth place, two games behind Missouri  Valley and Baker in the loss column with seven games remaining.

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McKinney powers Mustangs to 107-98 victory

Dennis McKinney poured in 35 points and snared 10 rebounds Saturday afternoon to help Mount Mercy top Missouri Valley, 107-98, in a Heart of America Conference shootout at the Hennessey Recreation Center.

The victory lifted the Mustangs to 11-11 overall and 6-10 in the conference. Missouri Valley fell to 12-10 overall and 9-8 in the league.

McKinney shot 12 for 18 from the floor, including 4 for 6 on 3-pointers, and sank all seven of his free throws. He also had three assists.

Bailey Basala pitched in with 25 points for Mount Mercy, including a 12-for-15 showing at the foul line and three 3-pointers. Streeter McIlravy scored 18 points with four 3-pointers. Tyler Kelley added 13 points.

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Mount Mercy men pound Grand View

DES MOINES - The Mount Mercy men's basketball team took out its recent  frustrations on Grand View Thursday night.

The Mustangs smashed the Vikings, 98-70, in a Heart of America  Conference game in Des Moines to end a string of tough defeats.

Bailey Basala canned five 3-pointers and scored 20 points as Mount  Mercy raised its records to 10-11 overall and 5-10 in the conference.  Dennis McKinney scored 17 points, RoyShawn Webb 14 and Julian Hehmann  10.

The Mustangs raced to a 54-28 lead at halftime and cruised from there.  Mount Mercy shot 57.4 percent from the floor, compared to 35.2 percent  for the Vikings.

Drew Johnson scored 13 points for Grand View (6-15, 4-12).

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