Lancers Advance! Mac Ryken's Last-Second Heroics Sink Briar Cliff in GPAC Quarterfinal

YANKTON, SD – In a game that defined "postseason madness," the Mount Marty Lancers kept their championship dreams alive on Wednesday night. Sophomore guard Mac Ryken drove in for a game-winning layup with just one second remaining to lift #3 Mount Marty over #6 Briar Cliff, 74-73.

The victory in front of a raucous Cimpl Arena crowd sends the Lancers to the GPAC Semifinals and marks one of the most thrilling finishes in recent program history.

The Final Sequence: "The Ryken Reach"

Trailing 73-72 after a back-and-forth second half, the Lancers had one final chance to save their season. Ryken, who found a seam in the Briar Cliff interior defense. He drove to the rim and banked home a contested layup with 1.0 second on the clock. Briar Cliff's desperation heave fell short, sparking a court-storming celebration in Yankton.

Game Summary: A Tale of Two Halves

The Chargers appeared to have the upper hand early, heading into the locker room with a 42-35 lead behind blistering shooting from Ryan Kleppe and Blake Sindelar. Briar Cliff shot a staggering 61.1% from beyond the arc for the game, a mark that usually guarantees a win.

However, the Lancers chipped away in the second half, outscoring the Chargers 39-31. Mount Marty dominated the glass, winning the rebound battle 25-23, including 11 offensive boards that led to critical second-chance points.
 

Inside the Box Score

• Lancer Depth: While the starters carried the load, the bench provided the winning spark. Along with Ryken's game-winner, Rugby Ryken dished out a team-high 5 assists in just 12 minutes of play.

• Paint Presence: MMU out-shot the Chargers by volume (60 attempts to 43), relying on their ability to get to the rim and create extra possessions.

• Defensive Hustle: Deegan Williams was a pest on the perimeter, recording 3 steals and a block to disrupt the Chargers' rhythm late in the game.

What's Next?

The Lancers (16-10) move on to the GPAC Semifinals this Saturday, February 28. They will face #2 Northwestern on Saturday at 2 PM in Orange City. With the #1 and #2 seeds still in play, the Lancers are two wins away from a conference tournament title and an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament.