The Muhlenberg men's basketball team played from behind all game and fell at Whitworth, 73-51.

The Pirates (6-5) jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three possessions and opened up a 10-point lead just seven minutes into the game. 

Back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore Charlie Gillikin - one with a free throw added for his second four-point play of the season - brought the Mules (7-3) to within five at 19-14, but Whitworth closed out the half on a 23-6 run to take a 22-point lead into the break.

Muhlenberg went on a 7-0 run midway through the second half, capped by a three-pointer from the corner by sophomore Luke Gordos off a behind-the-back pass by graduate student Dan Gaines, to cut the margin to 14. The Mules went dry after that, however, and did not make another field goal for the next five minutes as the Pirates re-established their commanding lead.

Gaines led Muhlenberg with 11 points, while Gordos (pictured above) finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.

After flying back from Washington, the road-tested Mules have two Centennial Conference home games scheduled in the first week of 2023. Muhlenberg's last five road games have come against teams who have combined to make 15 NCAA Tournament appearances in the last four postseasons. The Mules went 2-3 in those games, including one loss in overtime and another by one point on a last-second shot.