ALBION, Mich. – Mount Union's men's basketball team, ranked No. 21 in the nation, won its season opener with an 86-74 win at Albion Saturday afternoon at Kresge Gymnasium in Albion, Michigan.

Senior Braedon Poole (McDonald) scored a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead four players in double figures for the Purple Raiders (1-0).

Sophomore Christian Parker (Canton / GlenOak) came off the bench with 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while junior Chris Painter Jr. (Akron / St. Vincent- St. Mary) and senior Ethan Stanislawski (Massillon / Jackson) each added 15 and 11 points respectively.

Albion (0-1), who entered the game receiving votes in the national top 25, got 18 points from MJ Barnes in the defeat.

Mount Union ran out to an early nine-point lead as a Painter three-pointer with 15:46 left in the first half gave the Raiders a 12-3 lead. Albion answered over the next six minutes scoring 15 of the next 20 points and taking an 18-17 lead at the 9:58 mark. An Adam Chaney (Carrollton) three at the 7:55 mark gave the Raiders a 23-21 lead and sparked a 12-2 Mount Union surge that made it 35-23 with 4:26 left in the half. Albion would rally again with a 12-7 run to close the half as Mount Union took a 42-37 lead into the lockers.

Albion got to within a bucket twice in the opening minutes of the second half but the Raiders would take a nine-point lead on a Parker layup with 16:29 to play. Mount Union would stretch the lead out to 17 before the 12-point victory, 86-74.

Mount Union held a 36-24 advantage in rebounds which led to a 20-7 margin in second chance points.

The Raiders stay on the road and next play at St. Vincent (Pa.) Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in Latrobe, Pa.