The Mules shot 54.3% from the floor, including a school-record 14-22 from beyond the arc.
Junior guard Tom Scott and junior forward Jeff Stewart led the way early for the Mules (12-10, 7-8 CC), scoring a combined 15 points in the first five minutes of play. The Garnet (4-18, 3-12 CC) had a tough time getting untracked offensively. Stewart and senior Jimmy O’Brien played strong defense on Garnet forwards Ian McCormick ’08 and Steve Wolf ’06 in the paint, and the Swarthmore shooters were having trouble getting open looks.
Swarthmore tried several combinations of personnel in the half, but nothing could cool off the Mules. The Garnet went on a mini-run to cut the lead to 32-16 with 7:03 to play, but scored only two of the final 19 points of the half. Even the 235-pound Stewart would hit from behind the long-distance arc, nailing a three-pointer late in the period. Muhlenberg entered the locker room with a 51-18 lead at intermission.
Scott earned a first-half double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Stewart added 14 points, while Wolf led the Garnet with seven. As a team, the Mules shot 61.8% from the floor and went 8-12 (66.7%) from three point land.
The Mules continued to pour it on in the second half, building a 40-point lead with 15:34 to play. Starters from both teams exited the game, but the Muhlenberg shots continued to fall. Reserve guard Chris Pothering hit three from beyond the arc in just 10 minutes of action. All 16 Muhlenberg players and all 13 Garnet would see action. Raul Ordonez ’09 took advantage of his time on the floor by grabbing a team-leading five rebounds.
Scott led all players with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, picking up his first career double-double. Wolf paced the Garnet with 15 points; McCormick added nine.
Muhlenberg held a decisive edge on the boards, out-rebounding Swarthmore 48-34. The Garnet were held to 28.1% from the field.
Muhlenberg vs Swarthmore College 02/08/06 7:00 at Swarthmore College At Swarthmore College MUHLENBERG 95, SWARTHMORE COLLEGE 43 MUHLENBERG (12-10, 7-8 CC) Tom Scott 9-13 1-1 23; Jeff Stewart 6-13 1-3 14; Chris Pothering 3-4 0-0 9; Chris Huber 3-8 0-0 8; Chris MacIntosh 2-2 0-0 6; Jimmy O'Brien 3-6 0-0 6; Justin Fields 2-4 2-2 6; Christopher Strach 2-2 0-0 5; Jimmie Riggins 2-5 0-0 4; Brandon Mefford 2-3 0-0 4; Greg Pask 1-2 1-1 3; Michael Bernardini 1-4 0-0 3; John DeFeo 1-1 0-0 2; Tim Murray 1-1 0-0 2; Joseph Gogel 0-2 0-0 0; Matthew Ordog 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-70 5-7 95. SWARTHMORE COLLEGE (4-18, 3-12 CC) Steve Wolf 7-17 1-2 15; Ian McCormick 4-10 1-3 9; Dillon McGrew 2-7 0-0 5; Noam Fliegelman 2-6 0-0 4; Matt Kurman 1-7 2-3 4; Raul Ordonez 1-6 0-0 2; Chris Nana-Sinkam 1-1 0-0 2; Michael Bonesteel 0-0 2-3 2; J.P. Faunes 0-2 0-0 0; Eric Williams 0-1 0-0 0; Alan Walsh 0-2 0-0 0; Jon Tundel 0-2 0-0 0; Chris Casey 0-3 0-3 0. Totals 18-64 6-14 43. Muhlenberg.................... 51 44 - 95 Swarthmore College............ 18 25 - 43 3-point goals-Muhlenberg 14-22 (Tom Scott 4-5; Chris Pothering 3-4; Chris MacIntosh 2-2; Chris Huber 2-2; Michael Bernardini 1-3; Jeff Stewart 1-1; Christopher Strach 1-1; Joseph Gogel 0-1; Brandon Mefford 0-1; Jimmie Riggins 0-1; Jimmy O'Brien 0-1), Swarthmore College 1-15 (Dillon McGrew 1-4; Ian McCormick 0-1; Noam Fliegelman 0-1; Matt Kurman 0-1; Raul Ordonez 0-3; J.P. Faunes 0-1; Alan Walsh 0-1; Chris Casey 0-2; Steve Wolf 0-1). Fouled out--Muhlenberg-None, Swarthmore College-Ian McCormick. Rebounds-Muhlenberg 48 (Tom Scott 11), Swarthmore College 34 (Raul Ordonez 5). Assists-Muhlenberg 22 (Tom Scott 4), Swarthmore College 5 (Matt Kurman 2). Total fouls-Muhlenberg 15, Swarthmore College 12.