Mustangs Overpower Waldorf for First Win

FOREST CITY, Iowa — Mount Mercy secured its first win of the season Tuesday night, defeating Waldorf 110-85 in a nonconference matchup at Hanson Fieldhouse. The Mustangs (1-2) shot an even 50% from the floor and held a 40-31 advantage on the glass, using a strong second half to pull away.

Jaxson Fried led all scorers with 35 points on 12-of-20 shooting, adding seven rebounds and five assists. Brayson Laube provided 22 points and six free throws without a miss, while Aidan Yamilkoski chipped in 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Jordan Willis posted 10 points and six boards, rounding out a balanced starting five that accounted for 87 of Mount Mercy's total.

Mount Mercy trailed briefly in the opening minutes before a 15-2 run built an early cushion. Fried scored nine straight points during the stretch, and the Mustangs closed the first half with a 55-50 lead. In the second half, Mount Mercy's half-court execution and ball movement overwhelmed the Warriors. The Mustangs logged 18 assists on 37 field goals and converted 27-of-39 free throws, maintaining control throughout.

Defensively, Mount Mercy forced 20 Waldorf turnovers, generating 27 points off giveaways and holding the hosts to just 41.9% shooting after halftime. The Mustangs dominated inside, outscoring Waldorf 52-38 in the paint and collecting 14 second-chance points.

Waldorf (0-2) was paced by Nick Graves' 24 points and Conner Aldridge's 15, but the Warriors' second-half shooting slump and foul trouble proved costly.

The Mustangs will open the home portion of their schedule next week, taking on St. Ambrose at the Hennessey Rec Center on Nov. 5.