Fresh off an exciting 76-74 win at Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College on Friday night on a three-pointer by junior guard Ben Falkenberg with 0.1 second left, the Cougars (12-1) wasted little time in running out to a 24-5 lead over the first eight and a half minutes against the host Highlanders (4-7). Falkenberg led the early surge with 10 points that included a pair of treys, while senior post Connor Gregg (left) added eight points.

After Houghton closed the gap to 30-17 with 7:36 left before halftime, MVNU used a 14-1 run to take a commanding 44-18 lead at the break. Junior forward Matt McKinley led the way with seven points off the bench, while junior wing Andy Francis added five points including a three-point play with 0.6 seconds left.

Falkenberg, Gregg, and junior forward Jadin Thomas each scored 10 points to lead the Cougars in the first half, while McKinley added seven points. MVNU shot 50.0 percent from the field (18-for-36), 30.0 percent from three-point range (3-for-10), and made all five of its free throw attempts. The Cougars also held a 24-13 rebounding advantage and forced 11 turnovers while committing just five.

Mada Abdelhamid paced the Highlanders with six first-half points. Houghton shot just 28.0 percent from the field (7-for-25), 18.2 percent from three-point range (2-for-11), and 40.0 percent at the free throw line (2-for-5).

MVNU extended its lead to 48-20 to open the second half as freshman guard Brandon Short converted a four-point play at the 18:33 mark.

A 23-9 run by the Highlanders closed the gap to 57-43 with 7:16 to play. Yannick Anzuluni led the comeback with eight points, while Ben Kopp tossed in five points.

However, the Cougars pulled away down the stretch with a 16-6 surge to close the game as MVNU posted the 73-49 victory.

"We played a great first half and that’s where this game was won,” said head coach Scott Flemming. "Our defense was solid and we did a great job on the boards again today. Jadin came up big in both games this weekend. (Houghton) struggled to stop him inside, and then he hit a big three in the second half when we really needed a score. It’s great to come back with two wins on the road.”

Thomas (right) led all scorers with 21 points as he equaled his career high that he set on Friday against Roberts Wesleyan. He also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. Gregg finished with 12 points and five rebounds, and Falkenberg tossed in 12 points. Short contributed eight points, six rebounds, and five assists, and McKinley tallied in nine points with five rebounds off the bench. Sophomore guard Josh Taguiam also recorded a career-high five points and played a career-high 12 minutes off the bench with junior guard Dan Borcherdt missing his second straight game due to an injury. The Cougars shot 43.9 percent from the field (29-for-66), 30.0 percent from three-point range (6-for-20), and 69.2 percent from the free throw line (9-for-13). MVNU also held a 41-33 rebounding advantage and forced 17 turnovers.

Anzuluni posted a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Highlanders. Abdelhamid and Devin Paige added eight points apiece with Abdelhamid grabbing eight rebounds. Houghton shot just 35.8 percent from the field (19-for-53), 19.0 percent from three-point range (4-for-21), and 53.8 percent from the free throw line (7-for-13).

The Cougars, who are ranked seventh in the most recent NAIA Division II poll, will return to action on Tuesday when MVNU will host 19th-ranked Cedarville University (10-3) in the American Mideast Conference South Division opener for both teams. The action will tip off at 7:30 p.m. in the Physical Education Center.