ST. CHARLES, Mo. (Feb. 24, 2016) -- D'Marnier Cunningham made two free throws with 7.9 seconds to play and Lindenwood's last second jumper was off the mark and the Mules held on for a 59-58 win. The Mules ended the game on an 8-0 and with the win they sweep the season series with the Lions.
The Mules (14-13, 8-13 MIAA) trailed 58-51 with 2:57 to play in the game, before the late rally. Six of the final eight points for the Mules came at the free throw line.
UCM led by 10 at halftime and pushed the lead to 12 out of the break at 35-23 with 19:14 to play, but Lindenwood (15-12, 11-10 MIAA) came storming back. The Lions cut the lead to six on a three-pointer from Cory Arentsen and after to Mule free throws, he made two more buckets to pull LWU within a pair at 39-37.
Brad Woodson hit a three to push the lead back to five, but a three-point play from Brad Newman and another three from Arentsen gave Lindenwood at 43-42 lead at the 9:58 mark.
Cunningham sank two free throws to put UCM back in front, but a three from Arentsen kick-started an 8-0 run that gave the Lions a 51-44 lead with 8:06 to play. UCM was able to crawl back within two before five quick points gave LWU the 58-51 lead that UCM would rally from.
Both teams came out shooting well to open the game. The lead changed hands on nearly every possession. UCM went in front 13-12 on a three-point play by
Jakob Lowrance at the 11:48 mark. The Mules pushed the lead to six at 20-14 on a three from Lowrance, but a 9-3 run by the Lions tied the game at 23. The Mules outscored LWU 10-0 over the final 3:44 of the half and led 33-23 at halftime.
Marquiez Lawrence led the Mules with 13 points and eight rebounds. Lowrance finished with 11 points and seven boards, while Cunningham had 10 points, five boards and four assists.
The Mules shot 44 percent for the game (20-of-45) after shooting 61 percent in the first half. The Mules were 5-of-13 from three point range and made 14-of-18 at the free throw line.
Lindenwood shot 40 percent in the game (23-of-57) after going just 9-of-31 in the first half. LWU was 14-of-26 in the second half and made 8-of-23 from beyond the arc in the game. The Lions were 4-of-9 at the free throw line. Arentsen led the Lions with 35 points, while Newman added 14. Only four Lions scored in the game.
The Mules wrap up the regular season on Saturday night at Missouri Western. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph.
