ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Penn College's comeback efforts fell short in an 89-83 final at Muhlenburg in nonconference men's basketball on Tuesday evening. The Wildcats record slipped to 1-2 while the Mules improved to 1-2.

How it happened: The Wildcats and Mules battled back-and-forth for the first nine minutes of action as neither side could gain a two-possession advantage and worked through eight lead changes and five ties.

Joe Savage dropped in a layup to tie the score at 17-17 with 11:18 on the clock before a Muhlenburg three ignited a 14-3 run from the home side gave the Mules a cushion that had the Wildcats chasing to claw back. A pair of Donnie Bass Briscoe free throws halted the run and kept the Wildcats within ten, 31-21. Muhlenburg held onto its lead heading into the break, 43-34.

The Mules built its largest lead of the night, 77-62, at the 4:49 mark in the second half before the Wildcats started to mount its comeback with a 21-12 run to close the game as Livingston Cross and Gavin Barrett both fueled the surge with eight points each, and DJ Smith III added five, but the Wildcats comeback ran out of time.

Inside the box: Barrett drained a game-high 27 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 9-for-11 at the free throw line while also grabbing seven rebounds, earning two steals and leading the Wildcats with six assists and a block. Cross (16) and Smith (14) also finished in double figures scoring while Cross added 16 rebounds for his second double-double performance of the season.

Muhlenburg was led by Giovanni Rubino's 23 points while four other Mules finished in double digit scoring.

Up next: Penn College is back in Bardo Gym on Saturday to host William Patterson, 3 p.m.