Mount Mercy men’s basketball exceeding expectations

The Mount Mercy men's basketball program entered this season at a crossroads.

Two seasons ago, the Mustangs finished 27-6 with a top-10 ranking in NAIA Division II and qualified for the national tournament for only the second time.

But the bottom fell out a year ago, when four starters were dismissed midway through the season and the Mustangs limped through a 12-20 campaign.

Expectations for this season were nonexistent for those outside the program. The Mustangs were picked to finish sixth in the seven-team Midwest Collegiate Conference in the coaches poll.

Instead, Mount Mercy (13-3) is ranked No. 18 in this week's NAIA DII poll, the only MCC school in the rankings.

'We have a nice chemistry with no superstars,” Mount Mercy Coach Paul Gavin said.

The Mustangs are doing it with balanced scoring - five players average 9.3 points or better. The leader is senior guard Dondre Osborne at 13.3. He leads the team in assists and steals and is averaging about 35 minutes per game.

'In our style of running and pressing, guys usually don't play much more than 20 minutes a game,” Gavin said. '(Osborne) is like the Energizer Bunny. He just keeps going, even in practice. He doesn't have bad days.”

Osborne is from Zion, Ill., by way of Kishwaukee Community College. Australian James Boonstoppel, a senior from Frank Phillips (Texas) Junior College, is No. 2 in scoring at 11.4 points and is the top 3-point shooter, hitting at a 40-percent clip.

Three former Kennedy preps make significant contributions. Senior Jake Misener starts at point guard, sophomore Ben Struss starts at forward and junior Kyle Lamaak goes in off the bench.

Mount Mercy faces a stiff challenge Saturday when it travels to Oskaloosa to meet William Penn. The Statesmen were national runners-up two years ago and reached the Elite Eight a year ago.

50 Years of Fun

Luther is celebrating '50 years of Women's Sports at Luther” this year and is inviting members of the inaugural teams (basketball, field hockey and tennis) back for a celebration Feb. 14 at its home basketball game against Central.

Notables

Cornell senior Rikki Mulloy surpassed the 1,300 career point barrier with 23 points in the Rams' 76-62 win Tuesday over Monmouth. She has 1,315 points and is No. 2 on the school's all-time scoring list. Senior Taylor Dicus (Mount Vernon) is No. 2 on the rebounding list with 795 ... The Kirkwood women are again ranked No. 4 in NJCAA Division II after knocking off then No. 7 NIACC, 73-71, Saturday at Mason City. The win came at a price, however. Sophomore post Ariel Sneed injured a knee late in the game ... The Kirkwood men fell three spots to No. 12 after losing at NIACC.