The Muhlenberg men’s basketball team finished strong, winning two of its last three games. The Mules ended up 8-17, 6-12 in the Centennial Conference, but showed

Stewart scored 16.5 points per game and became the first All-CC ’Berg freshman.

glimpses of what is to come from a squad that loses no players to graduation.

The CC’s second-leading rebounder at 7.9 per game, freshman center Jeff Stewart, also led the team and ranked among the league’s top six in scoring, shooting and shot-blocking. He posted seven double-doubles, scored 30 or more points twice and totaled 396 points, the second-most ever by a Mule freshman.

Sophomore Jimmy O’Brien shot almost 47 percent from three-point range to lead the CC. He averaged 13.2 points and was also second on the team in rebounding, shooting, assists and steals. He joined Stewart as an all-conference honorable mention selection.

Muhlenberg went 6-6 at home and sometimes looked unstoppable, like when the team poured in 115 points against Elms, broke the school record for

O’Brien scored 20 or more points four times, including a 29-point game against Ursinus.

three-pointers in a game against Washington and shot 62.1 percent from the floor in each of two wins against McDaniel.

At Washington, Tom Scott tied the CC freshman record with 35 points, and his steal set up O’Brien's winning basket in the last second of overtime. Scott averaged 8.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

The Mules got leadership and contributions on the floor from their junior class. Chase Licata ranked third on the team with averages of 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds before missing the season’s final eight games with an injury. Donté Borden recorded team highs of 71 assists and 38 steals, while Ryan Bonda averaged 7.6 points and led the squad with 38 three-pointers.

Muhlenberg stayed within striking distance against Franklin & Marshall, Johns Hopkins and Ursinus – the CC's top three teams – but could never quite pull out a victory. The team also played close games with local powers Moravian and DeSales and highly ranked Taylor (Ind.).

When the Mules find a way to win those tight contests, they will look back on 2003-04 as a season where the foundation was laid for future success.