DES MOINES, IOWA – The Grand View men's basketball team defeated Mount Mercy 88-83 on Saturday afternoon, overcoming a second-half deficit to improve to 13-7 overall and 8-5 in conference play.
The Mustangs jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Daviyon Gaston scored to make it 6-2. Lukas Helms hit a three-pointer assisted by Jaxson Young to cut the deficit to 7-5, but Mount Mercy extended their lead to 10-5. Helms added another three-pointer assisted by Luke Hart to make it 12-10, and Rodell Davis Jr. knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Young to give Grand View a 13-12 lead. Mount Mercy regained the advantage at 15-13, but Davis Jr. scored to tie up the game at 15-15. The Mustangs took a 17-15 lead, and Gaston scored to knot the game again at 17-17. As both teams traded blows, Davis Jr. hit a three-pointer assisted by Gaston to give the Vikings a 30-29 advantage, but the Mustangs fought back. Joe Knutson knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Patrick Worrell to give Grand View a 35-33 lead. Riley Edwards hit a three-pointer assisted by Gaston to make it 38-37, and Worrell scored to give the Vikings a 40-39 advantage. Hart added a three-pointer assisted by Worrell to push the lead to 43-42, but Mount Mercy scored to take a 44-43 halftime lead.
Mount Mercy extended their lead in the second half, pushing the advantage to 52-46, but Helms hit two free throws to cut it to 52-48. Davis Jr. knocked down a three-pointer assisted by Gaston to make it 53-51, and Jones-Winslow scored to tie the game at 53-53. Helms added a layup to knot the score at 55-55, but the Mustangs responded with a 17-4 run to take a commanding 72-59 lead with 10:33 left on the clock. With the clock winding down, Grand View mounted a comeback. Knutson scored to cut the deficit to 72-61, and Worrell added a layup and free throw to make it 74-65. Young scored to bring the Vikings within 74-67, and Knutson hit a three-pointer assisted by Helms to cut it to 74-70. Worrell converted two free throws to make it 74-72, and Young hit two free throws to tie the game at 74-74. Helms added two free throws to give Grand View a 76-75 lead, but Mount Mercy tied it at 76-76. Young scored to give the Vikings a 78-76 advantage, but the Mustangs answered with a basket to make it 78-78. Mount Mercy regained the lead at 81-78, but Jones-Winslow scored assisted by Hart to cut it to 81-80. Jones-Winslow added another layup to give Grand View an 82-81 lead and scored again to extend it to 84-81. Helms hit a free throw to push the lead to 85-83 and added three more free throws in the final seconds to seal the 88-83 victory.
GAME NOTES:
WHATS NEXT?
The Vikings are back home Wednesday, January 28th as they take on the Clarke Pride at 7:30 PM.
