The Muhlenberg men's basketball team had its five-game 2018 winning streak snapped at the hands of Ursinus by a score of 75-61.
 
The Mules (7-8, 5-4 CC) played a strong first half and finished the game with four double-digit scorers. The Bears (11-5, 7-2 CC), however, made a big run in the second half to pull away and earn the victory.
 
Senior JeanLee Baez tied his season high of 15 points and gathered seven rebounds to lead the Mules. Sophomore Matt Gnias scored 12 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and three steals. Senior Nick Rindock added 12 points, putting him over 900 for his career, and freshman Spencer Duke contributed 10 points in his first career start.
 
Muhlenberg gained three-point advantages early in the game, with Duke hitting a three-pointer and Gnias (pictured above) driving for a layup to make it 9-6. Ursinus scored the next four points and later extended its lead to eight.
 
The Mules then opened a 9-0 run, starting with two Rindock free throws. A minute later, Gnias added a layup and sophomore Ryan Gaynor stole a pass on defense and took it all the way on the fast break to make it 31-29. Gnias tied the game about a minute later on another drive to the basket, and Baez added a free throw to give Muhlenberg the lead back.
 
Ursinus took a 35-34 lead into halftime and lengthened its advantage to four, but Rindock and Baez answered with layups to tie it up again. The game remained back and forth through the first five minutes of the second half, but the Bears then scored eight straight points and led by double digits the rest of the way.
 
The Mule defense held Ursinus to 25 percent shooting (4-16) from deep and forced 20 turnovers to match the most in a game this season.