Mustangs start fast, can't hold off Kohawks

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Mount Mercy men's basketball team scored the first 11 points of the game and held Coe to three points over the first eight minutes, but the Kohawks rallied to defeat the Mustangs, 73-68, Tuesday at Hennessey Recreation Center in the latest matchup between the intra-city rivals.

Coe (2-2) trailed, 17-3, with 12:24 left in the first half before a furious rally got the Kohawks back in the game. Senior guard James Henderson put Mount Mercy (5-4) in front, 21-11, but after that, the Mustangs went nearly seven minutes without a point and trailed, 25-21, until a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Jordan Ask with 3:56 to go in the period.

The Kohawks led, 30-29, at halftime, but it looked like Mount Mercy would take control when they moved in front, 37-33, with 18:28 remaining in the game. Coe answered the bell and surged ahead on a jumper by Andrew Wirth near the 15-minute mark and never trailed again. The Mustangs got within three at 71-68, but free throws by David Mataloni and Alex Tatman sealed Coe's fourth win in the last five meetings between the two teams.

There were three Mustangs in double figures, led by Henderson's 17 points. Sophomore forward Chad Underwood and junior forward Sam Kenyi added 12 points apiece. Underwood also snared seven rebounds, and Henderson and senior forward Josh Watznauer each handed out three assists.

Mataloni had a game-high 18 points for the Kohawks. Wirth chipped in 16 points, Tatman 12. Dan Borngraeber pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, and Wirth dished out four assists.

Mount Mercy hosts Roosevelt (Ill.) on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Hennessey Rec Center.