Fast start sends Mside to sixth straight victory

FREMONT, NEB. – Senior center Trey Brown (SR/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) produced his second successive double-double, leading four Morningside College starters in double figures Saturday, Dec. 5.

Head coach Jim Sykes' Mustangs, winning their sixth in a row and improving to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, needed every bit of Brown's monstrous 15-point, 14-rebound, six-assist effort over 33 minutes. They appeared on their way to a convincing eighth straight decision in the series against Midland University early on, leading 21-2 eight minutes in.

However, the Warriors, determined to defend their home court, rallied back and closed to within one of the three-time defending league champions twice down the stretch inside the Wikert Events Center. Mside was finally able to breathe easy behind a four-of-six performance at the free-throw line coupled with a big bucket from freshman guard Aidan Vanderloo (FR/Sioux City, IA) (Sioux City, Iowa) over the final 2:24 of regulation to ensure a 77-73 road triumph.

Senior guard Zach Imig (SR/Gretna, NE ) (Gretna, Neb.) and sophomore guard Will Pottebaum (SO/LeMars, IA) (LeMars, Iowa) turned in identical 13-point games, and sophomore guard Conner Hill (SO/Jewell, IA) (Jewell, Iowa) finished with 10 to add to the Maroon's double-digit list. Imig had a glowing late afternoon, dishing out five assists, grabbing three rebounds, and picking up two steals to go with his point total.

Morningside concludes a brief two-game road trip Wednesday, Dec. 9. They visit crosstown conference rival Briar Cliff University. Game time is 8 p.m. at BCU's Newman Flanagan Center.