[Men's Basketball] Torrid second half buries Warriors

FOREST CITY, Iowa -- Mount Mercy trailed Waldorf, 33-30, at intermission, but shot 65 percent from the floor while burying the Warriors with a 53-point second half in an 83-55 victory on Thursday at Hanson Fieldhouse.

The Mustangs (16-8, 9-3 MCC) kept pace with 14th-ranked Iowa Wesleyan (18-2, 9-1 MCC), remaining one game back of the Tigers in the Midwest Collegiate Conference with their second straight win and fourth in five games.

The second half was the difference against Waldorf (7-16, 2-10 MCC), as Mount Mercy shot 21-of-32 (65.6%) from the field and 5-of-10 from 3-point range after the break while outscoring the Warriors, 53-22.

Sophomore forward Chad Underwood hit 10-of-13 shots while pouring in 25 points for Mount Mercy. Senior forward Josh Watznauer added 13 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.

A balanced Mustangs offense also got nine points and seven boards from junior forward Sam Kenyi, eight points each from junior guard David Campbell and senior forward Max Stambaugh, and seven points and five rebounds from junior guard LeTerrious Thomas.

Jeremy Gerardo was the lone Warrior in double digits with 13 points. Damien Riley chipped in nine points, Sean Chennault and Shawn Sosebee seven apiece. Chennault also finished with seven rebounds and four assists.

Mount Mercy hosts another important league contest this weekend when Ashford comes to Cedar Rapids. The Saints (17-8, 8-3 MCC) beat the Mustangs, 62-56, on Jan. 8 in Clinton and sit a half-game behind Mount Mercy in the MCC. Game time is 3:00 p.m. at Hennessey Recreation Center.