The Muhlenberg men's basketball team played a strong second half in coming back and defeating Haverford 73-61 at home.
 
Trailing by one at halftime, the Mules (12-9, 7-8 CC) took their first lead of the second half on a Jon Schreer three-pointer. Muhlenberg then outscored the Fords (3-19, 2-13 CC) 19-7 over the next five minutes to take a commanding 14-point lead. The Mules maintained their double-digit advantage for the last 7:33 of the game.
 
The win helps keep Muhlenberg's Centennial Conference playoff hopes alive. The Mules with three games left to play are now 2.5 games behind Franklin & Marshall and Dickinson, who are tied for the final two playoff spots at 9-5.
 
Four Mules scored in double figures, with senior Brandon LaRose leading the scoring efforts with 19 points and a team-high nine rebounds as well. LaRose made 7-of-10 shots, including 2-of-3 three-point tries.
 
Schreer and junior Owen McLeod each finished with 12 points, while junior JeanLee Baez chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds to go with two blocks.
 
Muhlenberg took its first lead of the game when junior Nigel Long dished to McLeod for an open three-pointer midway through the first half, one of a career-high six assists for Long. Haverford took the lead back with its own triple before jumpers from sophomore Erik Werheim and LaRose put the Mules up 16-14.
 
Later tied at 20-20, McLeod hit his second three-pointer of the game to give the Mules the lead back, but Haverford scored the next four points and took a 24-23 advantage into halftime.
 
After a Ford jumper to start the second half, senior John Hunter (pictured above) brought the Mules back within one. Schreer then stole the ball away on defense before nailing a long triple to give Muhlenberg the lead for good. He made another three to extend the lead to five, and the Mules reached a double-digit margin when McLeod drove in for a finger-roll layup with 12:49 to go.
 
The Fords brought the game back to within eight with 10 minutes to play, but an "and-one" play from LaRose followed by a Baez inside layup put the Mules up by 13 again. Muhlenberg stretched its lead to as large as 15 after Baez made two free throws with two minutes left.
 
Muhlenberg had a season-low eight turnovers while forcing Haverford into 17 turnovers. The Mules scored 25 points off Haverford mistakes, and they also finished with 17 assists in the game.
 
The Mules have now beaten Haverford in 22 of 26 matchups in Allentown since the beginning of Centennial Conference play.