"To play at the Palestra is great ... But to win for the fifth straight game is the greatest of all."

The Muhlenberg men's basketball team made its first trip to the Palestra in almost 50 years a memorable one, pulling away late to defeat McDaniel, 65-55, for its fifth straight win.

The Mules (7-7, 5-3) matched their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2002 (they also won five straight in 2007 and 2013). They also moved into a tie for fourth place in the Centennial Conference, one game short of the halfway point in the league season.

Senior Nick Rindock scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the second half. Junior Erik Werheim (pictured above) scored 11 points on the strength of 4-for-4 shooting from the field, and sophomore Matt Gnias also hit double figures with 10 points.

Scheduled to start at 7:30 for the fifth and final game of "Centennial at the Palestra," the Mules were delayed almost an hour because two of the first four games went into overtime, including a thrilling double-overtime men's game between Dickinson and Washington immediately preceding the finale.

Muhlenberg led for most of the first half, opening up a seven-point lead at the six-minute mark. The Green Terror (2-12, 0-8) closed to within two by halftime, however.

Sophomore Ryan Gaynor gave the Mules a big lift off the bench with six first-half points.

The second half seesawed back and forth, with eight lead changes. A steal and breakaway dunk by senior Owen McLeod tied the score at 44 with 8:53 left, and Rindock hit a three from the corner on the next possession to give the Mules the lead for good.

It was 50-48 with five minutes to go before Rindock drove in for a three-point play. After a pair of defensive stops, junior Brendan Hughes drilled a three to extend the margin to eight.

Rindock's three-pointer with 1:52 to play gave Muhlenberg its first double-digit lead.

Freshman Spencer Duke scored seven points for the Mules, who allowed a season-low 55 points.