Box Score
The Mount St. Joseph University Lions shot a stellar 67 percent from the field in the first half on Wednesday night at Bluffton University, and the Mount went on to a 72-58 win over the Beavers. The win allows the Lions to hold onto a first place tie with three other teams in the conference, all sporting 4-1 marks. The Mount returns to action on Jan. 10 when they play at conference opponent Earlham College (0-12, 0-5 HCAC).
The Lions raced out to a 39-25 lead at the intermission, by connecting on 18-of-27 shots from the field in the first 20 minutes of play. They began the game on a 19-9, down to the 13:03 mark, scoring numerous baskets inside the lane. A lay-up by Ken Kunkel (Cincinnati, OH/Colerain) at 9:27 gave them a 25-11 lead, but their biggest lead of the first half was 17 points (37-20), after a three-pointer by Joel Scudder at 1:58.
The Mount out-rebounded Bluffton, 20-11 in the first half, while holding the host team to 36 percent shooting.
The Lions lead ballooned to 23 points (49-26) when Femi Thompson (Cincinnati, OH/Aiken) made a jump shot with 16:04 on the clock. Scudder scored a fast-break layup with four minutes left in the game, giving the Mount a 68-44 lead, the largest of the game. The Lions out-shot the Beavers from the field again over the final 20 minutes of play, 50 to 44 percent, despite Bluffton making seven-of-18 from long range.
Thompson led four Mount players in double figures, scoring 15 points while adding five rebounds. Scudder added 14 points, five rebounds and seven assists while teammate Mark Allen (Cincinnati, OH/Northwest) chipped in 11 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Kunkel had 10 points and six rebounds while Erik Edwards (Cincinnati, OH/Roger Bacon) had six rebounds.
