Muhlenberg Tops Men's Basketball 67-52 in Late Night Hoops
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muhlenberg (12-8, 8-5) | 26 | 41 | 67 |
| Swarthmore (5-15, 2-11) | 26 | 26 | 52 |
| Swarthmore, Pa. Tarble Pavilion | |||
| Muhlenberg | Swarthmore |
|---|---|
| Pts: Austin Curry - 16 | Pts: Will Gates - 15 |
| Reb: Kevin Hardgrove - 12 | Reb: 3 Players (#23, #40, #TM - 5) |
| Ast: Spencer Liddic - 3 | Ast: Jordan Martinez - 3 |
| Team Statistics | Muhlenberg | Swarthmore |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 38.9% (21-54 ) | 33.3% (20-60 ) |
| Rebounds | 41 | 35 |
| Assists | 9 | 8 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 16 |
| Pts off Turnovers | 19 | 13 |
| 2nd Chance Pts | 8 | 9 |
| Pts in the Paint | 24 | 12 |
| Fastbreak Pts | 4 | 0 |
| Bench Pts | 10 | 29 |
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - With the game tied 26-26 at the half, visiting Muhlenberg (12-8, 8-4) scored the first 11 points of the second half to break open a close game with the Swarthmore College men's basketball team, as the Garnet were defeated by the Mules 67-52 on Wednesday night from Tarble Pavilion.
Sophomore Will Gates scored 15 points to lead the Garnet (5-15, 2-11) attack. Freshman Jordan Federer was right behind with 12.
Freshman Austin Curry finished with 16 points to lead all-scorers. Fellow freshman Kevin Hargrove recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Week Spencer Liddic added 13 and eight.
The game did not start until 9:45 due to a power outrage across campus that delayed the women's game for over an hour.
The late start seemed to affect both offenses in the first half, as neither team was able to finish with a shooting percentage above 30 percent. Still, Swat seemed to be able to get into more of a rhythm than the Mules, as a pair of jumpers from freshman Eugene Prymak and Gates gave the Garnet its largest lead at 21-17. The Mules would rally down the stretch, tying the game for the fifth time on a foul shot from Liddic with 18 seconds before the half to send the teams to the lockers knotted 26-26.
In the second half, the Mules came out like an entirely different team offensively - and it showed from the opening whistle. Muhlenberg - which shot 51 percent in the second half compared to just 24 percent in the first - scored the opening 11 points of the second half, quickly turning the tight game on its head.
While the Swarthmore defense was eventually able to cool down the Mules and even get within a single possession, it simply could not stop Muhlenberg in the post. The first-year center Hargrove scored 12 of 15 points in the second half, while Liddic added six from the paint to put the Mules in command.
A three-pointer from Muhlenberg's Evan Tozer brought the Mulelead back to double-digits at the 11:50 to play, which is where it would remain for the rest of the game.
Swarthmore finished the game with nine steals, with Gates and Federer leading the way with two each.
Freshman Jay Kober and junior Marc Rogalski each finished with five points.
The Garnet travel to Johns Hopkins on Saturday to take on the Blue Jays. Action is slated for 1:00 p.m.
