Rebounds, free-throw deficit spell home loss for Mustangs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Mount Mercy men's basketball team suffered its second straight home loss Saturday, falling 84-71 to MidAmerica Nazarene in a Heart of America Athletic Conference game at Hennessey Recreation Center. The Pioneers enjoyed a 23-8 advantage at the free-throw line and outrebounded the Mustangs 43-24.

The Mustangs (16-11, 9-8 Heart) shot 44.4 percent (28-of-63) overall and 35 percent (7-of-20) from 3-point range. Melvin Lee came off the bench to lead the Mustangs with 18 points. Anthony Horton, Jr. also contributed 10 points and five assists off the bench. Among the starters, Bailey Basala scored 11 points and RoyShawn Webb had a team-high six rebounds.

The Pioneers (15-12, 10-7 Heart) shot 49.1 percent (26-of-53) from the floor and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from downtown. MidAmerica Nazarene made 23 of 32 free throw attempts (71.9 percent), while Mount Mercy made eight of only 11 attempts (72.7 percent). The Pioneers outscored the Mustangs, 10-0, in second-chance points.

Anthony Brown led the Pioneers with 26 points and five steals. Trey Brown scored 22 points and Caleb Jones-McCrary added 15 points and nine boards. Cameron Brady had a game-high 14 rebounds.

The Mustangs face Graceland at 7:30 pm Wednesday in Lamoni, Iowa, before returning home Saturday for Senior Day against Grand View. Tipoff for the regular season finale is scheduled for 4:00 pm at Hennessey Recreation Center.