CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Mount St. Joseph University men's basketball team was defeated by Anderson University on the road Saturday afternoon, 76–61. With the loss, the Mount still sits atop the HCAC standings, alongside four other teams with a 9–4 record.
The Lions came out hot, with Joe Brand hitting back-to-back threes and Cooper Ollis adding another, giving the Mount an early 9–2 lead. The rest of the half went back and forth, featuring five total lead changes. In the half, the Mount received contributions in the paint from Mathew Menninger, Jason Lavender, and Cam Craig, each of whom scored two baskets. Anderson closed the half at the free-throw line, converting both attempts, while Menninger answered with a bucket in the paint to cap the Mount's scoring. The Lions went into halftime trailing 31–30.
Anderson opened the second half with a 10–0 run, pushing its lead to 41–30 three minutes in. At the 12:48 mark, Griffen Derry knocked down a three-pointer to cut the Ravens' lead to seven, at 46–39. This would be the closest the Mount came to cutting into the Anderson lead. Jason Lavender scored 12 second-half points, and Menninger added 7, but it wasn't enough as the Mount fell 76–61."
The Lions were led by Jason Lavender, who finished with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Joe Brand added 15 points, shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc, and Mathew Menninger contributed 11 points.
UP NEXT: The Lions will host Franklin College on Wednesday, February 4, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
