1/30/2012 9:00:43 PM
Mullen fends off Anselmo-Merna, advances in LVC Tournament

CALLAWAY- Mullen and Anselmo-Merna played a hard fought game in the opening contest of the LVC Tournament. They were able to twice come back against the Coyotes and take the game 47-44.

Mullen was forced into a number of first half turnovers as the Coyotes controlled the tempo early. They got out to a 13-6 first quarter lead. The Broncos battled back though, outscoring A-M 13-7 in the second to pull to within 20-19 at the break. In the third quarter, both teams were neck and neck as each team scored just 12 points.  It was 32-31 in favor of the Coyotes heading into the fourth quarter. The Broncos got a big fourth quarter performance and were able to pull away down the stretch as they escaped with the 47-44 victory.

Josh Vinton led the Broncos with 12 points while Ben Carson and Matthew Furrow each had eight. Cole Geiser had a big night for the Coyotes. He scored 18 points and was 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. Joseph Christen added 12 points for Anselmo-Merna.

Mullen improves to 11-9 while Anselmo-Merna falls to 5-10. Mullen will face Sandhills/Thedford in the first semi-final game on Thursday. It will be the third time this season the two teams will meet each other. The previous two contests went to Sandhills/Thedford including a win over Mullen in last week's Sandhills Conference Tournament.