Men's Basketball Caged the Mustangs

Lamoni, Iowa. – The Graceland University Men's team took down the Mount Mercy University Mustangs, 59-54. The Yellowjackets move to 14-9 on the season and are 9-8 in the Heart.

Graceland (14-9; 9-8) | Mount Mercy (6-17; 2-15)
Half 1: Graceland 27 | Mount Mercy 27
Both teams started strongly, neither having an advantage over the other. The Yellowjackets would create the first 11-2 jump, begun from the jumper by Sam'i Roe (13-7). Minutes later, Winslow Martin and Trenton Daughtry would push Graceland to a seven-point advantage, which would be their largest of the game (17-10). In retaliation, the Mustangs would answer with their own seven-point collection to take the lead by one (19-20; at the 6:41 minute mark). Seth Compas would produce back-to-back baskets from the deep, taking the edge (25-22). Nate Cadet would tie the score heading into the half (27-27).
Half 2: Graceland 32 | Mount Mercy 27
The Yellowjackets found the net first in the second half with a layup from Aleksa Markovic (29-27). The Mustangs would answer with a 7-0 run taking the lead (29-34). Trenton Daughtry would break their run from a layup (16:50 minute mark). JT Washington would take the game's lead with a ball from the deep (36-35). Just halfway through the second half, the Yellowjackets would take the lead from Seth Compas's sunk layup (38-37). The Mustangs would close the gap to one with just over three minutes remaining (53-52). The Yellowjackets would hold their lead, taking six of the remaining eight points for the victory.

Key Moment
The Yellowjackets were able to collect a 7-0 scoring run to create an advantage, and they held onto it for the remainder of the game.

By the numbers:
40.7-36.5 – The Yellowjackets field goal percentage compared to the Mustangs
6-4 – Mount Mercy sank two more threes than Graceland
36-26 – The Yellowjackets made 10 more points in the paint than the Mustangs
14-7 – Graceland bench out scored Mount Mercy's bench by 10 points.

Graceland Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Seth Compas – 14
Rebounding Leader: Winslow Martin – 10
Assist Leader: Five Players – 2
Steal Leader: Sam'i Roe / Winslow Martin / Seth Compas – 2

Mount Mercy Leaders:
Scoring Leader: Ryan Bartley – 18
Rebounding Leader: Jakari Bradley – 12
Assist Leader: Jakari Bradley – 6
Steal Leader: Ryan Bartley – 1

Up Next:
The Men's Basketball team will be back on the road on Saturday, February 4, to take on the Park (Mo.) University Pirate. Tip-off is set for 2:00 pm.

-Yellowjackets-