Box Score CINCINNATI, Ohio- The Mount St. Joseph University men's basketball team gets a tough win over Manchester in front of huge crowd at Mount Madness. The Lions utilized a balanced scoring effort, including a monster game from their bench to defeat Manchester 72-64.
The Lions got off to a quick start scoring the first four points of the game. The Spartans would immediately go on a 7-0 run of their own to take the lead, a lead they would not relinquish until the closing minutes of the first half. Both teams would struggle to find their rythym offensively in the first half. The Lions would regain the lead with 22-21 on the strength of a pair of Liam Rabe (Lakeside Park, KY/ Dixie Heights) free throws. Rabe would be a part of the Lions outstanding bench effort in the first half. They got contributions from Tyler Manaugh (Madison, IN/ Madison), Holden Hertzel (Cincinnati, OH, Summit Country Day), and Connor Myslowski (Dayton, OH/ West Carrolton) off the bench, as they combined for 15 of the Lions 28 first half points. Helping the Lions to a 28-27 halftime lead.
The second half would open with the teams exchanging baskets and the lead over the first five minutes. The Lions regained the lead on a Hertzel 3-point play with 15:20 to play. The play would spark a 19-5 run by the Lions that would put them ahead for good. The Lions would maintain a large lead for most of the second half. But over the final minutes of the game the Spartans would threaten to get back into the game. They cut the lead down to seven with under a minute to play, they had possession of the ball with an opportunity to cut the lead even further. Then the Lions provided the play of the game, a steal and a run out led to a thunderous dunk by Erik Edwards (Cincinnati, OH/ Roger Bacon) put the game away for good.
The Lions were lead offensively in the game by Andrew Finley (Cincinnati, OH/ Walnut Hills) had a team high 15 points. Edwards added 12 points and 4 boards, and the bench contributed adding 28 points. The Lions pulled out the victory 72-64 to keep pace atop the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings.
The Lions will take to the court again this Wednesday, as they welcome the Ravens of Anderson University into the Harrington Center. The game will pit two of the three teams tied atop the HCAC against each other. It is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 PM, come early, be loud and GO LIONS!!!
