The Muhlenberg men's basketball team could not hold on to a nine-point halftime lead and fell at home to Swarthmore, 74-67.

The loss spoiled a spectacular effort by senior Giovanni Rubino, who scored 32 points for his third career 30-point game. Rubino missed only three shots in the game, going 9-for-12 from the field, 3-for-3 from three-point range and 11-for-11 from the line. 

Of the 45 times a Mule player has dropped in 30 or more points in the last 45 years, Rubino was the first to accomplish the feat in as few as 12 field-goal attempts.

The game played out similarly to the first meeting between the two teams in November. In that game, Muhlenberg led by eight at halftime but lost by 19. The Mules (7-13, 6-7) stayed in this one longer, but the Garnet (12-8, 9-4), which has played in the last seven Centennial Conference championship games, escaped with the win.

Rubino scored 27 of his points in the first half to lead Muhlenberg to a 41-32 lead at the break. A three-point play by senior Brandon Goldberg in the first minute of the second half extended the margin to 12.

Swarthmore eventually drew even at 55-all midway through the second half, went ahead 58-55 on a three off a turnover seconds later and stayed in front the rest of the way. 

It was a one-possession game in the final minute, with the Garnet leading 70-67 after Rubino hit a jumper for the last of his 32 points, but the Garnet scored the last four points.

Sophomore Drew Greene came off the bench to contribute 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while junior Jayson Williams-Johnson (pictured above) netted 9 points.

With five games remaining in the regular season, the Mules are tied with Ursinus for fifth place in the CC.