[Men's Basketball] Underwood, Kenyi spark Mustangs to 2-0 start

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Mount Mercy men's basketball team hosted the Bosch Financial Shootout over the weekend, picking up a pair of wins over Benedictine (Kan.) and Graceland at Hennessey Recreation Center.

The Mustangs opened the season with a 64-50 victory over Benedictine on Friday. Senior forward Sam Kenyi went for 16 points and eight rebounds against the Ravens, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Division I Top 25 Coaches' Poll and defeated Missouri-Kansas City in an exhibition game earlier in the week.

Junior guard Markus Cocroft joined Kenyi in double figures with 10 points while handing out five assists. Senior guard David Campbell and junior forward Chad Underwood added eight points each. Underwood and junior forward Alex Coleman had 10 boards apiece.

Each team knocked down 10 3-pointers on Saturday, but Mount Mercy went 23-of-26 from the free throw line in a 95-83 win over Graceland. Five Mustangs hit double digits, led by Underwood's game-high 26 points. He nailed four treys while collecting five rebounds and six steals. Kenyi chipped in 14 points and 10 boards, Campbell 14 points and a pair of assists.

Sophomore guard Bobby Sherwood tallied 12 points and three assists. Coleman scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds, Cocroft finished with eight points and seven assists.

Underwood was the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Kenyi also landed on the all-tournament team along with Quaran Johnson of Benedictine, Chris Henderson and Alex Roth of Graceland, and Davis Warner of Iowa Wesleyan.