Five hit double digits as Mustangs outpace the Lancers

YANKTON, S.D. – The Mustangs overcame a slow start in today's men's basketball game at Mount Marty, escaping the Lancers' den with a 75-62 victory. The win reignited Morningside's hopes of a favorable postseason position, as five teams now stand atop the Great Plains Athletic Conference with 10-4 conference records.

It looked like Morningside was in line to suffer the same fate that other GPAC giants had at Cimpl Arena as Mount Marty not only was able to smother Morningside's offense early, but also open up an early lead that reached eight points at the 14:44 mark in the first half. 

The Mustangs clawed their way back into the contest, though, tying the game with just under ten minutes to play in the first half and taking a 36-33 lead into the break. 

Mount Marty kept pace with its guests early in the second half, answering each Morningside score quickly for the opening seven minutes of the second stanza, but the Mustangs had found their groove, stretching out their lead to as many as 15 points as the clock continued to tick.

Five players led the Mustangs' offense on the day, with Jack Dotzler, Daniel Brocaille, Joey Skoff, Aidan Vanderloo, and Ely Doble all reaching double digits in the matinee. Brocaille's 14 points marks the first time that he has reached double digits in his Morningside career.

Morningside's spread out statistics weren't limited to scoring, as Dylan Johnson had nine rebounds, Skoff had eight, Doble and Justin Sitti seven, and Dotzler, Vanderloo, and Brocaille each three. The Mustangs also tallied 14 assists, led by Dotzler with four; five blocked shots, all courtesy of Johnson; and six steals, led by Doble with two.

Like the women, Morningside's men prepare for an inhospitable environment as they now prepare for Wednesday night's contest in Dordt's DeWitt Gymnasium.