The game went back and forth over the first 15 minutes with six ties and six lead changes as neither team led by more than four points with the visiting Red Storm (17-10, 4-6 AMC) clinging to a 23-22 lead.

Then, MVNU (18-7, 6-3 AMC) went on a 12-4 run over the next four minutes to take a 34-27 lead with 56 seconds left in the half before settling for a 36-30 advantage at the break. Senior guard Ben Falkenberg (left) led the surge with eight points and also had a three-point attempt rim out just ahead of the halftime buzzer.

Falkenberg led the Cougars with 12 points in the first half, while senior forward Jadin Thomas added 11 points and six rebounds. MVNU shot 42.4 percent from the field (14-for-33), 11.1 percent from three-point range (1-for-9), and 87.5 percent from the free throw line (7-for-8). The Cougars also held a 21-16 rebounding advantage and committed just six turnovers in the first half.

P.J. Rase led Rio Grande with 10 points in the first half, while Brandon Ivery added six points, five assists, and three rebounds. The Red Storm shot 41.4 percent from the field (12-for-29), 27.3 percent from three-point range (3-for-11), and 75.0 percent from the free throw line (3-for-4).

A three-pointer by Brett Beucler and a jumper by Rase closed the gap to 36-35 just over a minute into the second half. Five more points from Rase and a tip-in by Ivery kept Rio Grande within striking distance at 44-42 at the 15:02 mark.

Rase nailed two more trifectas and Will Norwell added a basket to offset three points apiece from senior forward Matt McKinley and freshman guard Robbie Taylor and a basket each by Falkenberg and sophomore guard Brandon Short as MVNU’s lead stood at 54-50 with 12:48 to play.

Four more points from McKinley and another basket by Short extended the Cougars’ lead to 60-50 at the 10:32 mark, and the lead continued to grow to 65-54 on a pair of free throws by Falkenberg with 8:29 to go.

A three-point play by Aaron Drakeford and a basket by Ivery closed the gap to 65-59 with 7:43 still on the clock, but six points from Thomas led MVNU to a 76-63 advantage with 3:54 left. From there, the Cougars would hold at least a double digit lead as the team went 8-for-8 at the free throw line the rest of the way to seal the 86-72 victory.

“This was a grind-it-out win tonight,” said MVNU coach Scott Flemming. “For us to win by 14 points over a quality team when only hitting three three-point shots is very unusual. We did a great job on the boards and getting to the free throw line. Our dribble-drive offense was effective in getting to the rim or causing them to foul. We hit some big shots when they counted and I thought we showed some toughness tonight. Each night, it is somebody different stepping up for us. We are a better team when we have more players contributing.”

Falkenberg finished with a game-high 27 points and five assists to lead the Cougars, while Thomas added 21 points and nine rebounds. McKinley (right) contributed 11 points and six rebounds off the bench, and Short added 10 points. MVNU shot went 25-for-32 at the free throw line for the game, while Rio Grande was just 4-for-5 with only one free throw attempt in the second half. The Cougars also committed just 10 turnovers and used a 32-11 advantage in bench scoring. MVNU shot 50.0 percent from the field (29-for-58), 18.8 percent from three-point range (3-for-16), and 78.1 percent from the free throw line (25-for-32).

Rase led the Red Storm with 23 points that included five three-pointers, while Beucler added 14 points. Ivery also tallied 12 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Rio Grande shot 50.0 percent from the field (30-for-60), 44.4 percent from three-point range (8-for-18), and 80.0 percent from the free throw line (4-for-5).

The Cougars will look to continue their winning streak on Tuesday when MVNU will travel to Wilberforce University for another AMC contest that will tip off at 7:30 p.m.