BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - The Mount Mercy men's basketball team staged a big rally Saturday afternoon, but the final five seconds slipped away in an 83-81 loss to Baker University.

The Mustangs trailed by 14 points, 58-44, with 14:26 left, but they stormed all the way back and took an 81-80 lead on a 3-pointer by Dennis McKinney with 31 seconds remaining.

Brandon Clifford scored for Baker with five seconds left to give the hosts an 82-81 advantage. Mount Mercy committed a turnover with four seconds left and fouled Baker with three seconds to go.

Baker made the first free throw for an 83-81 edge. Baker missed the second foul shot, but Mount Mercy knocked the rebound out of bounds and missed its final opportunity.

It was the second tough loss this season for the Mustangs, who fell 75-74 at St. Ambrose earlier this year.

Bailey Basala led Mount Mercy with 18 points. McKinney finished with 15 points. Emilio Villagrana scored 12 points and Mychael Brawner-Henley had 11 points. Mohammed Albagami contributed nine points and eight rebounds.

Mount Mercy was outscored at the foul line, 19-4. The Mustangs made 17 3-pointers.

Brandon Clifford scored 23 points for Baker (6-5, 3-3).

Mount Mercy fell to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the Heart of America Conference. The Mustangs host St. Ambrose Monday.

MOUNT MERCY (81): McKinney 7 0-0 15, Evans 1 0-2 2, Basala 7 1-2 18, Strong 2 0-0 5, Villagrana 4 0-0 12, Brawner-Henley 4 0-0 11, Albagami 3 0-0 9, Reischauer 2 3-4 9. Totals 30 4-8 81.

BAKER (83): Elifritz 4 3-5 11, Miller 1 0-0 2, Fisher 7 1-3 19, Martin 3 0-0 7, Clifford 8 4-4 23, Elliott 0 3-4 3, Patterson 1 0-0 3, Hopson 1 6-6 8, Dukes 2 0-0 5, Brooks 0 2-2 2. Totals 27 19-24 83.

Halftime - Baker 43, Mount Mercy 39. 3-point goals - Mount Mercy 17 (Villagrana 4, Basala 3, Brawner-Henley 3, Albagami 3, Reischauer 2, McKinney 1, Strong 1), Baker 10 (Fisher 4, Clifford 3, Martin 1, Patterson 1, Dukes 1).