CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Interstat) — A surging Graceland squad looks to continue its dominant season when it visits a Mount Mercy team seeking revenge in a key NAIA men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night.

The Graceland Yellowjackets (19-4) travel to face the Mount Mercy Mustangs (12-12) at the Hennessey Recreation Center. The Yellowjackets, winners of three straight and eight of their last ten, are riding high after a commanding 72-49 victory over Benedictine on Saturday. Mount Mercy aims to bounce back from a 77-65 road loss at Central Methodist that same day.

The contest is a quick rematch of a Jan. 21 overtime thriller, which Graceland won 94-87 at home. That game figures to be fresh in both teams’ minds, particularly Mount Mercy’s Jaxson Fried, who poured in 33 points in the loss.

Fried has been on a scoring tear, averaging 24.3 points over his last seven games. The Mustangs’ offense often runs through him, and containing him will be a primary focus for Graceland’s defense.

Graceland counters with forward Cole Bowen, who is coming off a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Benedictine. Bowen’s interior presence and versatility anchor a balanced Yellowjackets attack that saw Micah Lamberth (20 points) and Josh Sanderson (15 points) also excel in their latest outing.

The matchup pits one of the conference’s top teams against a .500 squad playing at home. Mount Mercy has shown potency, averaging 86.5 points in its last four wins, but has struggled with consistency. Graceland has proven tough on the road this season and will test a Mustangs defense that allowed 77 points in its last outing.

A Mount Mercy victory would provide a major resume boost and even the season series. For Graceland, a win is crucial to maintain its position atop the conference standings as the regular season enters its final weeks.