Laube Scores 14 as Mustangs Fall to Briar Cliff

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Mount Mercy men's basketball dropped its season opener Thursday night, falling 96–72 to Briar Cliff at Newman Flanagan Center. The Mustangs struggled to contain the Chargers' efficient perimeter offense, which shot 51.5% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc.

Briar Cliff established control early, using back-to-back 3-pointers to build a first-half advantage and lead 45–33 at the break. Mount Mercy battled within single digits midway through the period, but turnovers and transition buckets from the Chargers extended the margin.

The Mustangs were paced by guard Brayson Laube, who led the offense with consistent shot creation in the half-court and went 4-for-4 from the line, ending with a team high 14 points. Aidan Yamilkoski and Kaden Johnson provided key perimeter scoring in the opening frame, combining for multiple makes from long range. Forward Jordan Willis added steady post play with scoring on second-chance opportunities and defensive rebounds to spark limited runs.

Mount Mercy shot 36.6% overall and 28.1% from 3-point range, connecting on 9 of 32 attempts. The Mustangs went 11-for-14 at the foul line, including a 90% mark in the second half. Despite producing 11 offensive rebounds and holding an even turnover margin (11–11), Mount Mercy was outscored 46–26 in the paint.

The Mustangs will look to rebound tomorrow, taking on Morningside in another road matchup, slated for a 4 p.m. tipoff in Sioux City.