ST. PETE, Fla. – The No. 13 nationally ranked Mount Union men's basketball team beat Saint John's 76-65 in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday evening.

The Purple Raiders (10-1) had five players score in double figures with senior Collen Gurley (Akron / Hoban) leading the way with 14 points, senior Christian Parker (Canton / GlenOak) added in 13 points. Sophomore Corey Hudson (Columbus / Pickerington) scored 12 points, while junior Marcus Steele (Solon) and sophomore Caleb Laurich (Akron / Copley) both scored 11 points to round out the Raiders in double digits.

The Johnnies (8-3) were led by Brandon Adelman, Kooper Vaughn and Ryan Thissen who all scored 10 points apiece.

Saint John's would jump out to a 14-8 lead just over six and a half minutes into the game. The Johnnies would maintain that lead over the next three minutes before the Raiders would answer with a massive 16-2 run over the next 6:14 of game time to take a 30-22 lead with 4:29 left to play in the first half. Saint John's would cut the lead down to four over the next minute before Mount Union would stretch the lead back to eight over the final two minutes of the first half to take a 38-30 lead into the halftime break.

After trading baskets over the first nine and a half minutes of the second half, a lay in from sophomore Dante Collier (Columbus / Licking Heights) sparked a 16-8 Raider run over the next 7:01 to give Mount Union a 67-48 lead with 4:25 left to play. The Johnnies would answer with a quick 7-0 run over the next 1:27 that cut the lead down to 12 with just under three minutes remaining in the game. However, the Raiders would maintain their lead over the final three minutes of the game as they would go on to win 76-65.

The Raiders return home next when they host Baldwin Wallace on Wednesday, January 3 at 7 p.m. in the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.