The Muhlenberg men's basketball team lit it up in the second half but could not overcome a cold first half and fell at 12th-ranked Swarthmore, 81-69.

The Mules (1-5, 0-2) shot 54.5 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes, scoring 55 points against a Garnet team that leads the Centennial Conference in field-goal percentage defense. They were 12-of-21 from three-point range after going only 1-of-16 in the first half.

Senior Nick Rindock and freshman Michael Morreale scored 16 points apiece for the Mules. Morreale added three assists, three steals and two blocked shots.

Senior Owen McLeod (pictured above) finished with 10 points, hitting all three of his three-pointers in the second half.

Muhlenberg made only one field goal in the first eight minutes against the defending CC champion and trailed 17-3 before senior Alex Mitton made the first of his three field goals. Swarthmore (5-0, 2-0) extended its lead to 25 points (39-14) on a tipin at the first-half buzzer.

Despite their hot shooting, the Mules could not get any closer than 11 points in the second half.

Freshman Spencer Duke scored a career-high eight points in nine minutes.