The host Bulldogs (7-14, 1-7 AMC South) jumped out to an early 18-12 lead over the first nine minutes as Andre Lyles came off the bench to score eight points.

Following the sixth tie of the first half at 27-27 with 3:57 to play, the Cougars (17-4, 5-3 AMC South), who are ranked 12th in the latest NAIA Division II poll, rattled off the final 10 points of the half to take a 37-27 lead at the break. Junior guard Ben Falkenberg (left) led the way with five points, while junior wing Andy Francis also nailed a three-pointer.

Falkenberg led MVNU with 10 first-half points, while junior guard Dan Borcherdt also scored eight points. Senior forward Evan Yates contributed six points off the bench, and senior post Connor Gregg blocked four shots, scored four points, and grabbed four rebounds. The Cougars shot 40.6 percent from the field (13-for-32), 26.7 percent from three-point range (4-for-15), and 70.0 percent from the free throw line (7-for-10). MVNU committed just three turnovers in the first 20 minutes of action.

Wilberforce was led by Lyles with 13 points in the first half. The Bulldogs shot 25.9 percent from the field (7-for-27), 30.0 percent from three-point range (3-for-10), and 66.7 percent at the free throw line (10-for-15).

A three-pointer by Gerald Akridge cut the deficit to 37-30 on Wilberforce’s first shot of the second half. The two teams traded baskets over the next seven minutes with the Cougars clinging to a 52-46 advantage with 13:06 to go.

Then, MVNU went on a 32-15 run to take control of the game as the Cougars built an 84-61 lead. Junior forward Jadin Thomas led the way with 11 points, while Falkenberg scored nine points.

From there, MVNU held on for the 84-66 victory as the Cougars moved back into a tie for second place in the AMC South Division standings.

“I thought we played well for 40 minutes tonight,” said MVNU coach Scott Flemming. “Our defense was solid, we rebounded the ball well, and we played great team basketball on the offensive end. The only difference from the first half to the second half was our perimeter shooting. We found the stroke in the second half, and that makes us tough to beat. Road wins in this conference are huge.”

Falkenberg led four players in double figures for the Cougars with 22 points and five assists. Thomas added 16 points and five rebounds, and Borcherdt (right) tossed in 14 points with five assists. Gregg finished with 13 points, six rebounds, and five blocked shots, while Yates scored nine points off the bench. Francis registered eight points and eight rebounds, and freshman guard Brandon Short dished out six assists. MVNU shot 48.3 percent from the field (28-for-58), 35.5 percent from three-point range (11-for-31), and 70.8 percent from the free throw line (17-for-24). The Cougars, who had 23 assists on 28 field goals, committed just nine turnovers.

Lyles was the lone Wilberforce player to reach double figures as he finished with 23 points. Orville Perkins and Akridge both added nine points apiece. The Bulldogs shot 41.4 percent from the field (24-for-58), 28.6 percent from three-point range (6-for-21), and 66.7 percent at the free throw line (12-for-18).

MVNU will return to action on Tuesday night when the Cougars will travel to Cedarville University for another AMC South Division contest that will begin at 7:30 p.m.