The Muhlenberg men's basketball team tied a school record for three-pointers made on its way to earning a 98-88 comeback victory over SUNY New Paltz.
 
The Mules (1-1) made 15 triples to tie the single-game school record set during the 2006-07 season, shooting 40.5 percent from deep as a team. Three Muhlenberg players made at least three long balls, led by sophomore Matt Gnias who set career-highs with 16 points, four three-pointers and a game-high nine assists. Senior Owen McLeod and junior Brendan Hughes each made three triples to finish with nine points.
 
Muhlenberg spread the ball on offense, with four more players joining Gnias (pictured above) in scoring in double-figures. Senior JeanLee Baez scored 14 points and led the team with seven rebounds, and fellow senior Nick Rindock added 13 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Junior Erik Werheim chipped in 12 points and six rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench, while sophomore Ryan Gaynor contributed 10 points as well.
 
The win is the first in the head coaching career of Kevin Hopkins. The victory also places Muhlenberg in the championship game of the Scotty Wood Tournament for the second straight year and 32nd time in tournament history. The Mules will face Misericordia Saturday at 8:00.
 
The Hawks (0-1) staked out a lead to start the game and grew their lead to 26-18 eight minutes into the game. Muhlenberg then made its comeback run, starting with a Gaynor three-pointer off an assist from senior Nigel Long. Hughes made another three to cut the lead to two, and two free throws from freshman Spencer Duke tied the game at 26.
 
Following a New Paltz turnover, Gnias drained a three-pointer to give Muhlenberg its first lead, then hit another three on the team's next possession. The Hawks ended the Mules' 14-0 run with a three of their own and then cut the lead to one with a layup. Muhlenberg, however, continued the three-point barrage, with triples from Gnias, Gaynor and senior Alex Mitton keeping the home team in front. The three-pointer for Mitton was the first of his career.
 
Muhlenberg took a 45-38 lead into halftime and never allowed New Paltz to get closer than five points the rest of the way, eventually going up by as many as 19 points.
 
Led by Gnias and Rindock, the Mules racked up 24 assists as a team. Muhlenberg outrebounded New Paltz 40-34 in the game and won the turnover battle, 16-12. The Mules also shot 79.2 percent (19-24) from the charity stripe.
 
The 98 points, one more than the Muhlenberg women scored in their victory in the previous game, are the most for Muhlenberg in the Scotty Wood Tournament since scoring 99 points in the 2011 championship win over Immaculata.