The Muhlenberg men's basketball team held King's to 32-percent shooting, snapping a six-game skid with a 68-59 win.
Senior
Dan Gaines scored a game-high 19 points to close in on a career milestone, and junior
Justin Allen finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
Neither team ever led by double digits in a closely contested game that featured nine lead changes. The final change came early in the second half when Allen fed Gaines for a layup that put the Mules (3-6) ahead, 36-35.
On the next possession, Gaines stole the ball and passed to senior
Dallas Hoffman for a fast-break layup that turned into a three-point play, making the score 39-35.
The Monarchs (4-5) hung around and got as close as two points twice, the last time at 52-50 with just under five minutes to play. On the ensuing possession, Hoffman drilled a three-pointer from the corner off a pass by junior
Tommy McGuire from the opposite corner.
The lead was five heading into the final two minutes. Three points from Allen and free throws by Gaines, sophomore
Giovanni Rubino and freshman
Luke Gordos sealed the win.
Muhlenberg allowed only nine second-half field goals in its best defensive performance of the season, holding King's to just one made basket during a stretch of nearly 11 minutes in the second half.
Gaines, who also had 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals, ended the game with 997 career points. Senior
Nate Henty Brown also pulled in 9 boards, while Rubino
(pictured above) matched his career best with 7 points. McGuire blocked 4 shots.
