Box Score CINCINNATI, Ohio- In a match-up featuring two of the three teams tied atop the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the on court play would not disappoint. An extremely competitive game throughout, the outcome would hang in the balance until the final seconds. Mount St. Joseph trailed for much of the second half but would surge late to come away with an 80-79 victory.
The Ravens of Anderson University came into the game winners of eight of there last nine contests, and they would come out hot in this one. The Ravens opened the game on a 7-0 run, with Stanley Duncan scoring all of the points during the run. The Lions would trail for much of the first half, until an 11-0 run finally gave them their first lead of the contest with 11:10 to play. The Ravens immediately returned the favor going on an 11-2 run of their own. The teams would go back and forth over the final minutes of the first half and end the half tied at 36.
The Lions were lead in the first half by Jordan Henry (Lexington, KY/ Bryan Station) who tallied 8 of his team high 19 points in the first half. Connor Myslowski (Dayton, OH/ West Carrolton) added 8 points of his own off the bench. Henry and Myslowski would be heard from again before this game was over.
The second half would open with the HCAC's leading scorer trying to take the game over. Anderson's Trevor Lucas scored his teams first 10 points of the second half. This run helped the Ravens take control of the game. They would maintain the lead for most of the second half. The lead would be pushed to a game high 12 points with just over six minutes to play. The Lions would begin to chip into the lead cutting the lead to two with just 1:08 to play, Jake Cropper (Georgetown, OH/ Georgetown) scored six huge points in the run.
This titanic struggle all came down to the final seconds. As Anderson was inbounding the ball with a two point lead and only :32 seconds on the clock. Coach Carrigan elected to play for the steal and his players did not let him down. Henry stole the ball from Lucas on the sideline, and found Myslowski who hit the go ahead three pointer with :24 seconds to play. The Lions would force another Ravens turnover on the next possession and the hero Myslowski would seal the win at the free throw line.
All told the Lions were an impressive 21-22 from the free throw line. Myslowski finished the game with a career-high 18 points. Erik Edwards (Cincinnati, OH/ Roger Bacon) also had a solid game, chipping in 15 points and a team-high 9 rebounds.
Your first place Lions will take the court again Saturday, as the travel to take on Rose-Hulman. The game is scheduled to tip at 3:00 pm.
