The Muhlenberg men's basketball team erased a 21-point second-half deficit but ultimately fell at 14th-ranked Johns Hopkins, 82-73.

Sophomore Dan Gaines scored a game-high 28 points and added 7 rebounds and 5 assists to earn the Mules' MVP award in the annual Wall-O'Mahony game, played in honor of two former Blue Jays who lost their lives in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Pictured above is Gaines receiving his award from Johnny O'Mahony (brother of Matt O'Mahony) and Payton Wall (daughter of Glen Wall).

Muhlenberg (14-5, 7-5) shot 52.6 percent from the field in the first half but faced a 16-point deficit at the break, mainly due to its 11 turnovers. The Mules took better care of the ball in the second half and continued to make shots.

Hopkins (17-2, 11-1) scored the first five points of the second half to extend its lead to 53-32 before Muhlenberg made its move.

Gaines scored nine points in a 12-2 run that cut the margin to 11, and a three from the wing by junior Spencer Duke got the Mules to within single digits at 57-49 with 12:49 to go.

Senior Matt Gnias snaked in for a layup to cap a 17-3 run that gave Muhlenberg a 61-60 lead (its first lead since 7-6) with 7:37 on the clock.

The Blue Jays took the lead for good at 64-63 three possessions later. The Mules were within two, at 73-71, at the two-minute mark, but Hopkins scored the next seven points.

Gnias finished with 14 points, and sophomore Dallas Hoffman scored nine of his 11 points in the second half to help fuel the comeback effort.

Despite the loss, Muhlenberg maintained its two-game lead for fourth place in the Centennial Conference.