CRETE, Neb. (Interstat) — Sutton Arend scored 27 points and Mount Marty survived a furious second-half rally by Doane to secure a 77-74 road victory in a Great Plains Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night.

The Lancers, who led by as many as 22 points in the first half, saw their commanding advantage nearly vanish completely before holding on in the final seconds at the Haddix Center.

Mount Marty established dominance early, racing to a 38-26 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Lancers’ efficiency was stark, shooting 58% from the floor in the opening half while building a 77-74 lead by intermission. The Tigers, conversely, struggled with their shot early, making only 9 of 30 field goal attempts in the first quarter.

The game’s trajectory shifted dramatically after halftime. Doane’s offense awakened, spearheaded by Trevon Beckman, who scored 26 points, and a barrage of three-pointers. The Tigers outscored Mount Marty 48-39 in the second half, methodically chipping away at the deficit. A key 12-2 run midway through the period brought Doane within single digits, and the Tigers eventually closed the gap to a single possession in the final minute.

The most critical sequence came in the game’s closing seconds. With Mount Marty clinging to a 77-74 lead, Doane’s Casen Chaney was fouled with three seconds remaining. He made the first free throw but missed the second intentionally. A scramble for the rebound resulted in a turnover by Doane, sealing the victory for the Lancers.

Arend’s performance was pivotal for Mount Marty, continuing a strong stretch where he has averaged over 22 points per game in his last three contests. He was supported by a double-double from Jackson Edman, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and 14 points off the bench from Tyler Sandoval.

Doane’s comeback effort was fueled by Beckman’s 26 points and 15 points from Chaney. Jonan Claussen added 13 points, all in the second half, including three three-pointers during the Tigers’ surge. Despite forcing 16 Mount Marty turnovers and converting them into 12 steals, Doane was ultimately hampered by a 28-for-61 shooting performance and a 35-25 rebounding deficit.

The win improved Mount Marty’s season record to 8-9 overall, while Doane fell to 7-10. The result avenged a 68-65 home loss the Lancers suffered to the Tigers just over a month ago on Dec. 17.

Mount Marty’s ability to maintain its composure after seeing its large lead evaporate proved decisive. The Lancers made 17 of 24 free throws and scored 77 points on just 68 possessions, an offensive rating of 112.6, to edge a Doane team that had been favored by national statistical projections.

Mount Marty will host Waldorf on Saturday. Doane is scheduled to host Morningside the same day.