Mount men's basketball team edged by Rose-Hulman, 65-60

Host Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology seized the lead with 1:27 to play in the game, hitting two free throws, and held off the Mount in winning, 65-60. The loss ends the Lions four-game winning streak and puts their record at 9-5 overall, 6-2 in the HCAC (and into a three-way, second place tie), one game behind the Fightin' Engineers. The Mount will be back in action on Jan. 22 at conference-rival Anderson University.

The Lions got off to a solid start in the game on Saturday afternoon against the Fightin' Engineers, leading by scores of 15-10 and 21-16 before a three-point basket by Joel Scudder (Greendale, IN/South Dearborn) made the score 26-20 with 1:55 on the first half clock. Rose-Hulman fought back with three-point baskets of their own twice down the stretch, and grabbed a 33-32 lead with three seconds before halftime when they connected on a free throw attempt.

Andy Countryman (Peebles, OH/Peebles) converted two free throws with 3:31 on the game clock in the second half, giving the Mount a 59-58 lead, but Rose-Hulman regained the game's lead 60-59 with 1:27 scoring on two free throws. The Fightin' Enginners would hold onto the lead down the stretch, converting a three-point attempt with 42 seconds left to lead 63-59. After the Mount made one free throw with 24 seconds left to cut the deficit to 63-60, the Fightin' Enginners scored the game's final points with two free throws with 0:14 on the clock. The win enabled Rose-Hulman to claim sole possession of first place in the HCAC with a 7-1 mark.

David Mann (Fairfield, OH/Cincinnati Christian) led the Lions with 16 points, making four-of-eight from three-point range. Scudder chipped in 12 points and six rebounds. Mark Allen (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) chipped in nine points and a game-high seven rebounds. The Mount out-shot Rose-Hulman, 51 to 42 percent from the field, 50 to 45 percent from three-point range, and 76 to 75 percent from the free throw line. The two teams had 26 rebounds each. The Lions committed 14 turnovers while the Fightin' Engineers had seven turnovers.