[Men's Basketball] Crusaders lead throughout, drop Mustangs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Clarke led Thursday night's Midwest Collegiate Conference contest for all but two minutes and handed the Mount Mercy men's basketball team a critical league loss, 80-64, at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mount Mercy (14-8, 7-3 MCC), which entered the night just a half-game back of 14th-ranked Iowa Wesleyan (16-2, 8-1 MCC) in the conference standings, now finds itself a game-and-a-half behind the Tigers. The Mustangs are only 5-4 at home this season while compiling a 9-4 mark away from Hennessey Recreation Center. Clarke (11-12, 4-6 MCC) avenged a 76-69 loss to the Mustangs on Jan. 2 in Dubuque.

Mount Mercy couldn't find the mark on Thursday. Offensively, the Mustangs shot a season-worst 30.4 percent (21-of-69) from the floor and 60 percent (15-of-25) from the free throw line. Their struggles from 3-point range continued as well, finishing 7-of-30 (23.3%) from beyond the arc.

Senior guard Jimmy Scroggins had 14 points to lead the Mustangs. Junior guard David Campbell added 12 points, sophomore forward Chad Underwood seven points and four rebounds. Senior forward Josh Watznauer collected five points, 10 boards, and six assists.

While the Mustangs struggled Thursday night, the Crusaders shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field and 91.3 percent (21-of-23) at the foul line. Elliott Carr led four players in double figures with 18 points. Justin Heng had 14 points, Charles Nunn 14 points and nine rebounds, and Eli Fitzsimmons 10 points. Brock Zins grabbed 10 boards.

Mount Mercy hosts William Penn (11-11, 3-6 MCC) on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. The Mustangs put up a season-high 108 points in a 108-92 victory over the Statesmen on Dec. 4 in Oskaloosa.