Tom Scott can sleep a little easier.

After a year in which the Muhlenberg men’s basketball team lost one tough road game after another, the Mules pulled out a 73-69 win at Swarthmore in their first venture outside Memorial Hall in 2006-07.

Senior Jimmie Riggins hit two three-pointers and came up with a big rebound in the final 1:13 as Muhlenberg (3-3, 2-1), which trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, came through down the stretch.

“I definitely lost some sleep over those games,” said Scott, referring to losses at the buzzer at Dickinson and Franklin & Marshall and a last-minute defeat at Gettysburg. “But this is a different team. We have a different mental toughness and we’ll be better at finishing games on the road.”

Riggins, who entered the year with three career three-pointers in 12 attempts, is 7-for-10 from behind the arc this year.

Scott played a big role in the second-half comeback, scoring 12 of his 18 points after the break and giving the Mules a 48-46 lead on two free throws with 14:46 left. Neither team led by more than five points after that. The Garnet (2-5, 1-2) held a 63-59 lead with 4:40 to play, but back-to-back hoops by Scott and senior Justin Fields tied the score back up.

Two more exchanges of baskets produced the game’s 10th tie, 67-67 with 1:33 on the clock. On the next possession, Riggins drilled a three-pointer from the wing to give Muhlenberg the lead for good.

Swarthmore responded with a basket, but senior Brandon Mefford dribbled through the Garnet press and dished off to Scott for an open three-pointer. After the shot missed, Riggins skied to tap the ball back out to Mefford, and Muhlenberg reset on offense with a one-point lead and less than 40 seconds left.

With the shot clock running down, Mefford penetrated the defense, then dished to Riggins on the wing for another three-pointer at 13.3 seconds. Swarthmore missed the front end of a one-and-one with three ticks remaining, and Fields corralled the rebound to secure the win.

Fields finished with a career-high 18 points and added nine rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Muhlenberg had 13 offensive rebounds in the second half after collecting just one in the first half.

Riggins had 15 points and nine rebounds.

“Jimmie has been stepping up all year, ” said Scott. “No one expected him to do what he’s been doing. He’s made such an improvement.”

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Questions or comments? Send mail to falk@muhlenberg.edu Last updated December 6, 2006