A tight affair to start the Centennial Conference slate ended with Dickinson topping Muhlenberg men's basketball 75-65.
 
The Mules (3-1, 0-1 CC) played a strong first half, shooting 48.4 percent from the floor to start the game. The Red Devils (3-0, 1-0 CC) pulled away in the second half by starting an 8-0 run with 7:21 left. The Mules fought to keep the game within reach but ultimately could not close the gap.
 
Senior guard Brandon LaRose led Muhlenberg with 19 points on 8 for 13 shooting to go with four rebounds and four assists. Junior guard Owen McLeod (pictured above) also scored in double figures, tallying 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
 
Despite a slow start, a jumper from sophomore center Erik Werheim and a layup from LaRose on back-to-back possessions gave Muhlenberg its first lead at 18-17. Another Werheim jumper and a basket by junior forward JeanLee Baez increased the lead to five. Muhlenberg held its advantage up until a three in the final seconds sent the teams to halftime with Dickinson up 37-34.
 
Senior Jon Schreer hit a three early in the second half to tie the game again at 39-39. Dickinson then took a four-point advantage, but the Mules battled back again with a jumper from junior guard Kevin Miller putting the Mules back in front 46-45.
 
Dickinson retook the lead on its next possession and never relinquished it, hitting free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
 
Overall, the lead changed six times and the teams were tied in three instances.
 
Muhlenberg only took one three in the first half and shot 15 for 30 from within the arc in the first half.
 
The Mules outrebounded Dickinson in the game 43-33. Senior center John Hunter finished with a game-high 12 rebounds. Werheim and Baez each contributed five rebounds as well, with Werheim finishing with eight points and Baez chipping in six.