Knox Scores Career-High 25 Points

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Host Muhlenberg outscored Washington 50-43 in the second half to turn a 39-38 halftime deficit into an 88-82 win in a Centennial conference men's basketball contest on Wednesday night at Memorial Hall.  The Mules improve to 6-4 overall and 1-3 in the Centennial, while the Shoremen fall to 1-7 and 1-3 respectively.

The Mules came out strong scoring the game's first nine points to lead 9-0 just 2:33 into the game on a layup by Nick Rindock.  The Shoremen would counter with a 13-6 run of their own to trim the lead to 15-13 with 12:31 to go in the first half on a jumper by sophomore guard James Drury (Jenkintown, Pa./Germantown Academy).  Muhlenberg led 26-21 with 7:59 left in the first half on a John Hunter layup before Washington went on a 16-8 run to take a 37-34 lead with 1:49 to go in the half on a traditional three-point play by junior forward Dave Knox (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South).  Knox grabbed an offensive rebound off of a missed three pointer to earn the three-point play.  During the run, WC got within one on three occasions and tied the score twice before grabbing their first lead of the game.  The Shoremen took a 39-38 lead into halftime after Muhlenberg's Malique Killing scored on a driving lay-in to beat the buzzer.

After the Shoremen scored the opening bucket of the second half, the Mules scored the next seven points to take a 45-41 lead with 18:20 left in the game on a Rindock lay-in.  Rindock gave the Mules their first lead of the half 24 seconds earlier on a triple.  Muhlenberg led 45-44 with 17:30 left before going on a 12-3 run to take a 57-47 lead with 12:20 remaining on an Owen McLeod layup.  The Shoremen would cut the Mules lead to just two points at 72-70 with 4:37 to go on a pair of free throws by freshman guard Tas Dixon (Ardmore, Pa./Harriton), but would get no closer.  The Mules would push their lead to 11 points on two occasions in the final four minutes before coming away with a six-point victory.

Killing led all players with 28 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the floor and canning all 11 free throws.  He also tied for game-best with five assists and three steals.  Rindock added 17 points, while Alec Stavetski chipped in with 10 points.  Rindock and John Hunter grabbed seven rebounds to lead all players.  Muhlenberg held a 31-20 advantage on the boards.  The Mules shot 60% from the floor (28-for-47), 31% from three-point range (4-for-13) and 82% from the foul stripe (28-for-34). 

Knox scored a career-best 25 points for the Shoremen, to go along with a team-best six rebounds, and was one of five Shoremen to score in double figures.  Drury netted 13 points, senior guard John Weston (Tampa, Fla./Bolles School) added 11 points, while senior forward Sean Flanigan (Wilmington, Del./St. Mark's) scored 10 points.  Senior guard Sean Brooks (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) had five assists and three steals to tie for game-best to go along with 13 points.  Washington shot 48% from the floor (28-for-58), 22% from three-point range (5-for-23) and 75% from the free throw line (21-for-28). 

Washington scored 25 points off of 20 Muhlenberg turnovers, while the Mules scored just 12 points off of 12 Shoremen turnovers.  Muhlenberg held a 19-10 edge in bench points.

The Shoremen travel to Division I member William & Mary on Friday night with tip-off at 7:00 p.m.