The Muhlenberg men's basketball team fought back after trailing in the first half, setting themselves up with a shot to tie the game, but a last-second three-pointer rimmed out and McDaniel came away with a  57-54 victory.
 
Behind to start the second half, the Mules (8-5, 4-4 CC) continued to keep the game close and never let the Green Terror (8-7, 4-4 CC) pull away, getting to within one point of tying the game.
 
The Green Terror made two late triples to make it 54-49 with two minutes left.  After two McDaniel free throws, senior Brandon LaRose drove into the lane and sank a jumper while fouled. LaRose swished the ensuing free throw to make it 56-52 with 1:29 to go.
 
Playing  full-court pressure defense, the Mules forced a critical McDaniel turnover. Off the inbounds pass, LaRose drove to his left and was fouled, sinking both free throws and making it a one possession game at 57-54. The Mules made a key stop on defense to set themselves up for the tying shot, but a LaRose triple from the corner rattled off the rim as time expired.
 
LaRose and freshman Matt Gnias each finished with 11 points to lead the Mules. Gnias made four of his six shots, including three of four three-pointers, while also finishing with a team-high four assists. LaRose also gathered seven rebounds and made all three of his free throws.
 
Junior JeanLee Baez also scored in double figures, dropping 10 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Baez made all four of his field goals and is now shooting 75.5 (37-for-49) from the field this season.
 
The teams entered halftime with McDaniel leading 22-20 and that margin maintained with the squads trading baskets to start the second half. The Green Terror then went on a 7-1 run until Gnias hit a three-pointer to bring the score to 35-30.
 
Junior Owen McLeod later made a nifty behind-the-back dribble to open himself up for a floater that cut the deficit back down to two. McDaniel kept the Mules from tying the game, going on another mini-run to make it 45-40 with six minutes to go.
 
The Mules continued to fight as LaRose found sophomore Erik Werheim with a pass and Werheim swished the baseline jumper. Muhlenberg made a defensive stop and junior Nick Rindock tossed the defensive rebound down the court to senior Jon Schreer, who converted the fast-break layup.
 
McDaniel hit a three on its next possession but Rindock (pictured above) answered with a three of his own to drop the margin down to one with less than four minutes remaining. Rindock finished with nine points to go with three rebounds and three assists.
 
Muhlenberg outrebounded McDaniel 31-23 in the contest. The Mules bench outscored the Green Terror reserves 25-3 as well.