McKinney's 43 spark Mustang rout

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Reigning Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week Dennis McKinney (SR/Chicago, Ill.) poured in a career-high 43 points to lead Mount Mercy to a 95-73 defeat of Grand View on Wednesday night at Hennessey Recreation Center.

McKinney is making a strong push for a second consecutive player of the week honor, surpassing his previous career-high of 39 points against Central Methodist last year. It's also the highest point total since Matt White tied the school record with 45 points against Grinnell on Nov. 19, 1999. Tony Ince also scored 45 points versus Iowa Wesleyan on Jan. 20, 1993.

Mount Mercy (6-6, 4-4 Heart) held an advantage in nearly every statistical category that mattered on Wednesday. The Mustangs outrebounded the Vikings (8-7, 5-7 Heart), 41-33, shot 57.1% from the floor overall, and 50% from 3-point range. Grand View could only manage a 39.1% field goal percentage while shooting just 27.3% beyond the arc.

McKinney finished 14-of-21 from the field, 5-of-9 from long range, and 10-of-11 at the free throw line while grabbing seven rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Bailey Basala (SR/Moline, Ill.), who scored 13 points to go along with a game-high nine boards, five assists, and three blocks. Anthony Horton, Jr. (FR/Marion, Ind.) chipped in nine points, seven rebounds, and three assists.

Ryan Miller tallied 22 points and six rebounds to lead the Vikings. Brady Sartorius had 15 points, Naa'il Mahdi nine. Jack Trudo and Drew Johnson each dished out four assists while Johnson also collected three steals.

Mount Mercy travels to Olathe, Kan., on Saturday to take on MidAmerica Nazarene (11-8, 8-8 Heart) at 2:00 p.m., then returns home on Monday, hosting Graceland (2-12, 1-12 Heart) at 6:00 p.m. at Hennessey Rec Center.