Shorthanded Pride survive Vikings rally in 92-85 win

DUBUQUE, Iowa - In the final game before the calendars turn to the new year, the Clarke University men's basketball team was able to end 2024 on a high note with a 92-85 win over Missouri Valley College on Tuesday afternoon.

The Pride entered the game down three of their rotational guards due to either injury or illness as Maximiliano Bowman, Jordan DiBenedetto, and Nick Bryant all missed Tuesday action with all of the guard minutes needing to be filled by Jonovan Howard and Devon Junghans.

Those two would combine for 22 points and 13 assists with Howard adding five rebounds and three steals to his nine-assist and three-point game while Junghans scored his Clarke career-high of 19 points on 5-of-11 (45.4%) from the field, 2-of-5 (40%) from three point range, and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line, including a layup and pair of free throws in the final minute to keep CU's lead at seven points.

It was an impressive 45-29 first half that would provide plenty of cushion for Clarke as they would start the second half strong extending that lead to 23 points at 54-31 in the first two minutes of the second half before the Vikings would cut it to just a one-point game at 79-78 with just under three minutes remaining.

Back-to-back buckets from Daquon Lewis and Jake Layman would give CU a two-possession lead with the Junghans four-straight points getting that lead back up to seven to help the Pride essentially ice the game capped off by a Lewis alley-oop dunk from Howard to put the final nail in the coffin at about 15 seconds remaining.

Carson Lindauer had a big day off the bench for Clarke going 7-for-10 (70%) from the field, 4-for-5 (80%) from three and 4-for-6 (66.7%) from the free throw line for a season-high 22 points while adding six rebounds, two steals, and an assist.

Layman finished with 17 points on an efficient 5-for-8 (62.5%) from the field as Lewis added a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double with four assists and three steals with Bryce Luster adding 13 points in a starting role.

Missouri Valley's comeback was powered by the long range shooting between the duo of Keenan Jones and Cawhan Smith as they were the only double figures scorers for the Vikings with Jones going 6-for-10 (60%) from deep for a game-high 30 points while Smith produced 21 with six assists on a 9-for-15 (60%) shooting performance from the field.

Clarke men's basketball will head into winter break 2-9 overall and 2-5 in the Heart as their next game will be on Thursday Jan. 2 when they travel to Parkville, Mo. to take on the Pirates of Park University for a 2:00 p.m. CT scheduled opening tip.