CEDAR RAPIDS – Mount Mercy University was able to convert from the free throw line Saturday to hold a second-half comeback effort from Benedictine Men's Basketball.

Trailing by 9 points at halftime, the Ravens battled back to lead the Mustangs for a five-minute stretch through the middle of the second half. Mount Mercy regained the lead for good with just under 3 minutes remaining and held off the Ravens from the free throw line to earn a 77-70 win.

Mount Mercy finished the game at 25 of 32 from the free throw line, which included 18 of 24 in the second half and 9 of 10 inside the final minute of the game. 

After trading the lead five times while playing through 7 ties through the first 11 minutes of the game, Mount Mercy was able to pull away from Benedictine over the final 5 minutes of the half holding the Ravens without a field goal of that same stretch.

Benedictine opened the second half outscoring Mount Mercy 22-12 to erase their halftime deficit and pull ahead 50-49 on a basket from Deaglan Sullivan. A pair of 3-pointers from Drew Purdy and Larry Parker III pushed the Ravens out to a 5 points lead before the Mustangs scored 6 straight to retake the lead for good.

Three Ravens finished in double figures, led by Sullivan with 21. Preston Reynolds finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds while Purdy added 10 points. 

Benedictine returns home on Wednesday, hosting Park University at 7:30 p.m. in their final home game of the regular season.

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