[Men's Basketball] Mustang men continue hot start

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. -- Mount Mercy's hot start to the season continued on Tuesday night as the Mustangs overcame a one-point halftime deficit and improved to 8-0 with a 67-54 victory over Trinity Christian (Ill.) in non-conference men's basketball.

Mount Mercy has won its first eight games for the first time in school history. The Mustangs did it despite one of their worst shooting nights of the season, hitting only 35.2 percent of their shots from the floor and going 10-of-20 at the free throw line. Mount Mercy outrebounded Trinity Christian, 53-45, and forced 22 turnovers.

Four Mustangs reached double figures, led by junior forward Chad Underwood's 18 points. Senior guard David Campbell knocked down three 3-pointers during a 15-point night, and senior forward Sam Kenyi and junior forward Alex Coleman had 12 points each. Underwood grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, while Coleman finished with eight and junior forward Dominic Zanella snared seven boards. Junior guard Markus Cocroft tallied seven assists, six rebounds and four steals.

Matt Buren's double-double included 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Trolls (3-5). BJ Wortham scored nine points and recorded four steals, Jeremy Dykstra chipped in eight points and four boards. Trinity Christian struggled to 3-of-22 (13.6%) beyond the arc and 16-of-57 (28.1%) overall from the field.

Mount Mercy hosts Midland (Neb.) in another non-conference tilt on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Hennessey Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids.