ALLENTOWN, Pa.—No. 1 Swarthmore College Men's Basketball won its 12th consecutive game to open up the 2019-20 season, beating the Muhlenberg College Mules 85-74 on Thursday night.
Six different Garnet players scored double figures in the win as the Garnet shot a blistering 60 percent from the floor, a season high. Senior forward Zac O'Dell crossed a significant milestone in the contest with his 10 points. Needing six points entering the game, he reached the 1,000-point mark for his career with a layup 31 seconds into the second half and is now the 23rd player in program history to reach that plateau.
Sophomore guard George Visconti dropped in a game-high 20 points while going 8-of-13 from the floor. Nate Shafer powered in 17 points while shooting 7-of-10. He also blocked four shots.
Conor Harkins connected on three triples and finished with 11 points. O'Dell, Vinny DeAngelo and Colin Shaw each scored 10.
Swarthmore nearly doubled up Muhlenberg on the glass, grabbing 37 rebounds while holding the Mules to 17 caroms.
The Mules, who dropped to 9-3 with the loss, were led in scoring by Dan Gaines (19 points).
Swarthmore built an 11-point lead nine minutes into the game and took a nine-point lead into the break. The lead was cut to four at 12:46 in the second half, but a pair of Harkins threes and two O'Dell free throws bumped Swarthmore's lead to 12 just a minute later.
The Mules again pulled within four with 7:17 to but a quick 5-0 burst gave Swarthmore some breathing room.
Swarthmore travels to Lancaster on Saturday for a 2 p.m. date with F&M (6-6).
