Mustangs Come Back to Force Overtime; Fall to MidAmerica Nazarene

OLATHE, Kan. — Mount Mercy could not overcome a slow start and an overtime surge by MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday, falling 73–71 in Heart of America play despite a combined 56 points from guards Jaxson Fried and Brayson Laube.

The Mustangs (4–5, 0–2 Heart) trailed 36–23 at halftime after shooting 34.6% from the field and committing seven turnovers before the break. MNU capitalized with 18 points off turnovers for the game, a decisive margin in a contest otherwise statistically balanced.

Mount Mercy recalibrated in the second half, deploying more consistent half-court execution and increased ball pressure. Laube keyed the rally with 16 second-half points, finishing with a team-high 27 on 11-of-19 shooting. Fried added 29 points, including five 3-pointers and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free-throw line.

Down 57–55 in the final minute of regulation, the Mustangs forced a defensive stop and converted on a late Laube drive with 20 seconds remaining to tie the score. Mount Mercy then survived two MNU attempts at the buzzer to force overtime.

In overtime, the Mustangs briefly seized momentum when Fried drilled a 3-pointer and later assisted on a Laube jumper to take a 66–65 lead with 2:11 remaining. But MNU answered with key trips to the line, including four free throws from Malachi Bryant in the final minute. Bryant, who scored a game-high 22, hit two at the stripe with two seconds left to put the Pioneers ahead for good.

Mount Mercy finished 42.9% from the floor and 7-for-20 from beyond the arc while winning the paint battle 44–33. However, MNU's bench outscored the Mustangs' reserves 20–3, and the Pioneers held a narrow 42–39 rebounding edge.

The Mustangs will compete during Thanksgiving week at home, facing off in a home contest with William Penn on Tuesday, with tipoff slated for 7:30 p.m.