The Muhlenberg men's basketball team took a big step forward in its Centennial Conference playoff aspirations, combining solid three-point shooting, defense and rebounding in a 75-59 home win against Dickinson.

The win moved the Mules (10-10, 7-6) into a tie for fourth place with the Red Devils (9-11, 7-6) with five games remaining in the regular season. Both teams are a game ahead of Franklin & Marshall in the chase for the five playoff berths.

Freshmen Nate Henty Brown (22) and Noah Watson (16) both recorded career highs in points, with two other freshmen, Dan Gaines (17) and Dallas Hoffman (10), scoring in double figures.

Muhlenberg, which allowed 101 points when the teams met on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, cut that number nearly in half, holding Dickinson to 40.7-percent shooting, including just 6-of-25 from three-point range. The Mules also had a huge 42-27 rebounding advantage.

Henty Brown topped his previous career high of 21 (last achieved four days ago) on the strength of six three-pointers. He also pulled down 11 rebounds for his second double-double.

Muhlenberg made 13 threes in the game to run its season total to 192, the second-highest single-season output in program history.

Watson made three of his four three-pointers in the first seven minutes, helping stake the Mules to an early 21-11 lead. Dickinson closed to within three late in the half before a pair of three-pointers by Henty Brown sent the Mules into the locker room with a 35-28 advantage.

The Red Devils cut the margin to four, 39-35, early in the second half, but a 14-3 run in which the Mules made all four of their three-point tries - two by Henty Brown and one each by Hoffman and Watson - extended the lead to 15. The Red Devils never got closer than seven points the rest of the game.

Junior Matt Gnias (pictured above) returned to the lineup after missing two games and made a long three-pointer in the second half.