DUBUQUE - The Mount Mercy men's basketball team fell behind by 22 points at halftime Wednesday night and lost to Clarke, 87-73, in the Heart of America Conference opener in Dubuque.

Antwain Strong led the Mustangs (2-2, 0-1) with 22 points. Bailey Basala scored 12 points and Mike Evans added 10.

Clarke (2-2, 1-0) saw five players reach double figures, with Darius Lasley leading the way with 17 points. Staci Richardson had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Clarke won the battle of the boards, 38-28.

MOUNT MERCY (73): McKinney 3 2-2 8, Brawner-Henley 1 0-0 3, Evans 4 2-3 10, Strong 8 6-9 22, Villagrana 1 0-0 3, Albagami 1 0-0 3, Reischauer 3 1-2 8, Johnson 2 0-0 4, Kehinde 0 0-1 0, Basala 5 0-0 12, Akkepenek 0 0-0 0. Totals 28 11-17 73.

CLARKE (87): Richardson 6 0-3 13, Meier 5 2-3 12, Lasley 6 5-5 17, Johnson 6 0-0 16, Bolden Jr. 5 2-2 13, Marshall 2 0-0 4, Williams 3 1-2 7, Lake 0 6-6 6, Hendrickson 0 0-0 0. Totals 33 16-21 87.

Halftime - Clarke 43, Mount Mercy 21. 3-point goals - Mount Mercy 6 (Basala 2, Brawner-Henley 1, Villagrana 1, Albagami 1, Reischauer 1), Clarke 5 (Johnson 4, Bolden 1)