Graceland Earns Hard-Fought Road Win Over Mount Mercy, 72-64

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Graceland University men's basketball team delivered a resilient performance on the road, defeating the Mount Mercy Mustangs 72-64 at Hennessey Rec Center. Despite being short-handed, the Yellowjackets displayed toughness and confidence to secure a key conference victory.

With the win, Graceland improves to 20-3 overall and 16-3 in conference play, while Mount Mercy falls to 13-9 overall and 11-8 in conference action. They Yellowjackets find themselves just one game behind Baker University who they'll face a week from Saturday in Lamoni in a game that will play a huge rolling in deciding the conference regular season championship.

Team Performance

Graceland set the tone early with defensive pressure that forced 16 Mustang turnovers. Jy Hamilton's relentless effort on defense led to four steals, in addition to numerous disruptions that did not appear in the stat sheet.

Offensively, the Yellowjackets capitalized on Mount Mercy's miscues, converting 18 points off turnovers. Graceland also held a 38-32 rebounding advantage, creating key second-chance opportunities that proved crucial down the stretch.

Head coach Todd Lorensen credited his team's toughness and execution in securing the win.

"Today was the epitome of a team win. Our guys played with the toughness and confidence that it takes. Guys stepped up while we were short-handed to secure a great road win."

Key Performers

• Micah Johnson recorded a double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, delivering in key moments.
• Jy Hamilton was instrumental on defense, collecting four steals and adding a clutch three-pointer late in the game to seal the victory.
• Devin Andrews finished with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, providing an efficient scoring presence.
• Caleb Reeves contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, giving the Yellowjackets a consistent inside-out scoring option.

Mount Mercy's Ethan Caldwell led all scorers with 21 points on 9-for-15 shooting, but the Mustangs struggled to find rhythm from beyond the arc, shooting just 27.8% (5-for-18) from three-point range.

Game Breakdown

The game remained tightly contested through the first half, with Graceland holding a 34-30 lead at halftime. Mount Mercy opened the second half with a surge, briefly taking a lead before the Yellowjackets responded with a 10-2 run to regain control.

Johnson's playmaking and rebounding helped steady Graceland's offense, while Hamilton's defensive presence disrupted Mount Mercy's backcourt. In the final minutes, Andrews and Reeves converted key free throws, helping the Yellowjackets fend off any late Mustang comeback attempts.

Coach Lorensen praised Johnson's continued growth and leadership:
"He just keeps getting better every day. Tonight's double-double, plus six assists, came when we needed it most."

Additionally, Lorensen credited Hamilton's defensive energy and crucial plays:
"His defensive effort early in the game set the tone for our team. His four steals show in the stat sheet, but he had many other plays that don't show up there. His late three really helped put the game away."

By the Numbers

• Graceland: 28-for-62 FG (45.2%), 8-for-21 3PT (38.1%), 8-for-12 FT (66.7%), 38 rebounds, 16 assists, 9 turnovers, 7 steals.
• Mount Mercy: 26-for-58 FG (44.8%), 5-for-18 3PT (27.8%), 7-for-10 FT (70.0%), 32 rebounds, 12 assists, 16 turnovers, 5 steals.

The Yellowjackets dominated points off turnovers (18-9), using defensive stops to generate offensive momentum.

Up Next

Graceland will look to build on this victory as they travel to Parkville, Missouri, for a matchup against the Park University Pirates tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Fans can follow live stats or stream the game online.

For more information on Graceland men's basketball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.