CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Mount St. Joseph men's basketball team got back to the .500 mark in HCAC play with a dominant second-half effort vs. Defiance on Saturday. In the second-half they held the Yellow Jackets to just 11 points and 16% shooting from the field, leading to the Lions setting a new school record for fewest points allowed in a game at 34. The previous record was 41 points allowed during a 2021-22 game vs. Manchester.
The game was tight through much of the first-half, with the Yellow Jackets holding the early advantage an a 5-point lead. During the low scoring first 17 plus minutes the lead exchanged hands nine times with that five point advantage for Defiance being the largest lead. The Lions took the lead with 2:37 to play in the half on a pair of
Jack Kolar free-throws and never trailed again in the contest. The Lions closed the half on a 9-4 run that put them ahead 26-23 at the break.
In the second-half the Mount put together a dominant start, going on a 15-0 run to open the half, with Kolar scoring 8 points during the run. All told they would only allow the Yellow Jackets to score 11-point in the half, outscoring them 41-11 over the final 20 minutes. In the end securing a much needed HCAC victory , 67-34.
The Mount had a trio of players in double-figures scoring, led by
Dayne Gardner and his 14 points. Gardner stuffed the stat sheet all over, adding 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 2 steals. Joining him in double figures was
Luke Collinsworth and Kolar each of whom chipped in 10.
UP NEXT:
The Lions will welcome the preemptive favorite in the HCAC this season the Panthers of Hanover to Cincinnati and the Harrington Center on Wednesday. The game is scheduled to get underway way at 7:30 pm.
