The first Muhlenberg athletic contest of 2018 was a successful return for the men's basketball team and two of its players.
Playing for the first time in 25 days, the Mules (3-7) closed the game on a 26-9 run to defeat Western Connecticut State, 81-69, for their second win in three games.
The two Muhlenberg players from Connecticut, playing in their home state for the first time since high school, were key contributors. Junior
Brendan Hughes recorded 14 points and a career-high 5 assists without a turnover, while freshman
Spencer Duke finished with 8 points and a career-high 7 rebounds. Both players also brought large cheering sections whose vocal support provided the Mules with the energy to pull away despite the long road trip.
Sophomore
Matt Gnias scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half, and freshman
Michael Morreale had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Senior
JeanLee Baez also scored in double figures, finishing with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
Muhlenberg erased two seven-point deficits in the first half, tying the score at 32-all on Duke's putback in the waning seconds. The Mules hit four three-pointers in the first five minutes of the second half to open up a six-point lead, but the Colonials came back to take their biggest lead of the half, 60-55, with eight minutes left to play.
Back-to-back three-pointers by Gnias put Muhlenberg ahead stay, and Hughes
(pictured above) added another three to complete a 9-0 run that made the score 64-60. The margin was two before Hughes hit another three, then assisted Duke for a layup to give the Mules their biggest lead to that point, 71-64.
The Conn. connection worked again when Hughes assisted Duke on another layup to make it 75-69 with 1:26 remaining. Four free throws by Gnias, two by Duke and four defensive stops - one on a drawn charge by Hughes - accounted for the final margin.
The Mules shot 48.6 percent from the field and committed only two turnovers (none in the final 14 minutes) and three fouls in the second half.
