The Muhlenberg men's basketball team used its defense to advance to the Scotty Wood Tournament championship game with an 88-43 win against Cairn.

The Mules earned a championship matchup with Widener, a 75-49 winner against FDU-Florham, in a sequel to the schools' NCAA Tournament meeting in football in the afternoon.

Cairn began hot from the field and opened up an 18-12 lead nine minutes in. That's when the Mules (3-0) turned up the defense, holding the Highlanders to one field goal the rest of the half.

Muhlenberg closed the half on a 29-5 run, then began the second half with a 22-4 surge to put the game out of reach.

Senior Malique Killing led the Mules with 20 points, and junior Alec Stavetski added 19. Junior Nick Melosky (pictured left) netted a career-high 11, making all three of his three-point attempts.

Sophomore Jon Schreer contributed six points, eight assists (without a turnover) and five steals.

The Mules shot 60 percent from the field, going 7-of-10 from three-point range, in the second half and held Cairn (0-2) to 25.9-percent shooting.