In one of the longest games in its history, the Muhlenberg men's basketball team battled to triple overtime with Ursinus and tied the game late in third extra period thanks to three free throws from senior Jon Schreer, but Ursinus made two free throws of its own at the end to win 99-97.
 
The Mules (8-6, 4-5 CC) opened up the game taking a 42-34 lead into halftime before the Bears (10-6, 7-2 CC) came back to tie the game and take a lead with five minutes left in regulation. Muhlenberg battled back and eventually sent the game to overtime after senior Brandon LaRose hit two free throws with a minute left that knotted the game at 68-68.
 
Muhlenberg took a four-point lead to start the first overtime thanks to four straight points from junior forward JeanLee Baez. Ursinus answered and the game went to a second overtime tied at 76-76.
 
The Mules fell behind to start the second extra period but roared back with six straight points, taking an 86-84 lead on a John Hunter baseline jumper with one minute remaining. A last-second foul sent Ursinus to the free throw line however and the game was sent to a third overtime.
 
On back-to-back possessions to start the period, junior Owen McLeod made a jumper from the foul line and freshman Matt Gnias then hit a floater putting Muhlenberg in front again. Following an Ursinus three-pointer, LaRose drove into the lane and got fouled, draining both of his free throws to make it 92-89 Mules. Ursinus countered however with another triple that tied the game again.
 
The two teams exchanged free throws before the third Ursinus three-pointer of the overtime period had the visitors up 97-94. Needing a three-pointer to tie the game, Schreer loaded up from long range and was fouled on the release. The senior made all three of his free throws to tie the game with 21 seconds remaining.
 
Muhlenberg looked poised to send the game to a fourth overtime with a defensive stand, but a foul call sent Ursinus to the line with three seconds left. The Bears made two free throws and a last-second full-court heave from the Mules hit the right side of the backboard.
 
For the Mules, the triple-overtime game was the first for the team since 2008 against Johns Hopkins. Muhlenberg has now taken six games to triple overtime. Ursinus and Muhlenberg also played to triple overtime back in the 1965-66 season.
 
Five Mules scored in double figures, led by LaRose with a season-high 28 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to notch the second double-double of his career. LaRose made 14 of 16 free throws in the game as well.

Making his first start of his career, Gnias scored 13 points, setting a career high, to go with four assists and four rebounds. Schreer (pictured above) added 11 points, making all five of his free throws in the overtime periods, while Baez and junior Nick Rindock each contributed 10 points as well.

Muhlenberg made a season-best 21 of 23 free throws (91.3 percent) as a team, including all 13 attempts in the overtime periods. The Mules also shot 44.4 percent from three-point range, making four of seven triples in the first half to help jump out to an early lead.
 
Defensively, the Mules held the team with the best shooting percentage in the Centennial Conference coming into the night's game to a 39.2 percent clip from the field.