The Muhlenberg men's basketball team came back from 18 down in the first half and nine down with less than five minutes to play to defeat Haverford, 67-64, for its fourth win in a row. 

The thrilling victory moved the Mules (12-10, 9-6) one step closer to a Centennial Conference playoff berth. With three games remaining in the regular season, they are alone in fourth place, two games ahead of Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall and Washington. Muhlenberg travels to F&M on Saturday.

Junior Matt Gnias led four players in double figures with 24 points against the Fords (9-13, 5-10). Reigning CC player of the week Dan Gaines scored 14, while sophomore Michael Morreale came off the bench to net 13. Freshman Dallas Hoffman scored nine of his 11 points in the second half and made two big blocks in the waning minutes.

Muhlenberg trailed 21-3 ten minutes in but rallied to take a 35-33 lead in the final minute of the half. Haverford beat the first-half buzzer to tie the game and quickly opened up another advantage at the start of the second half.

The Fords led 62-53 with 4:37 on the clock when a three by Hoffman began the final comeback. Hoffman (pictured above) drove in for an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the gap to one, and a three by Gaines from the wing made it 66-64 Mules with 1:49 to play.

Haverford had a good look to tie the game on its next possession, but Hoffman blocked a layup attempt. After the teams traded empty possessions, Hoffman emphatically blocked a three-point attempt from the corner in the final 10 seconds.

The Fords threw the ensuing inbounds pass away, and freshman Nate Henty Brown was fouled with 4.1 seconds left. He made the first free throw and missed the second. Haverford's attempt to tie at the buzzer drew iron but did not fall.

The Mules held Haverford without a field goal for the final 6:27, ending the game on a 15-4 run. 

Gnias and Morreale each scored five points in a 16-2 first-half run that helped erase the early deficit.