Defense won out over offense as the Muhlenberg men's basketball team opened Centennial Conference play with a 64-56 win at Haverford. 

The Fords (6-7, 0-1) came in averaging 76.8 points per game and had scored 110 in their last home game, but the Mules (8-5, 1-0), who are ranked in the top 12 in Division III in three defensive categories, held them more than 20 points below their average.

Muhlenberg also outrebounded Haverford, which came in with a 7.1 average rebound margin, and committed only six turnovers against a Ford squad that was forcing an average of 16.0 per game.

Sophomores Arinze Achufusi and Drew Buck led the Mules with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Junior Peter Stanton-Shepherd keyed the first-half run that gave Muhlenberg the lead for good, finishing with 9 points, and senior Nate Hoffman had a strong all-around game, with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

The Mules trailed 16-14 with seven-and-a-half minutes to play in the first half before going on an 11-0 run in which they held the Fords scoreless for more than five minutes. Stanton-Shepherd scored all of his points during the run, on four straight possessions, two coming off offensive rebounds.

Ahead 29-22 at the break, Muhlenberg stayed tough through two Haverford comeback attempts.

The Fords had cut the gap to three, 31-28, early in the second half before the Mules went on a 10-0 run, highlighted by two Buck threes, to open up a double-digit lead. 

A three by Achufusi with 5:47 left made it 56-44, but the Mules did not make another field goal for five minutes. Haverford trailed only 58-54 before Achufusi pulled up to hit a jumper as he was getting fouled with 43.2 seconds remaining. Achufusi made the free throw, effectively putting a game away and giving Muhlenberg its first win in a CC opener since the 2019-20 season. 

Junior Gavin D'Iorio (pictured above) pulled down a career-high 8 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass.