The Culver-Stockton men's basketball team moved closer to clinching a postseason berth for the first time since the 2018-19 season with an 88-83 victory over Mount Mercy University Wednesday night at Charles Field House.

The Wildcats, who are currently tied for fifth in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with an 11-10 league record, can guarantee a postseason game with a victory in any of its last three games, or a loss by Park University in any of its last three games.

The Wildcats used an 11-2 burst late in the second half to pull away and dispatch the Mustangs for the second time this season.

Leading 65-63 after a Mount Mercy basket by Jaxson Fried with 6:31 to play, the Wildcats used a 3-pointer by Ryan Moore to propel a run over a three minute, 30 second stretch that included a layup and a conventional 3-point play by Robert Fry II and a 3-pointer by CaRondis Harris-Anderson to extend the lead to 76-65.

The Mustangs clawed their way back to within four points on two occasions in the final 13 seconds; however, the Wildcats made three of its final four free throws to keep the lead at a safe distance.

Five Wildcat players reached double figures with Tai Walters-Whitaker leading the way with 18 points. Harris-Anderson came off the bench to net 14 markers, while Seth Larson and Connor Davis chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Fry, who was the fifth Wildcat player in double figures with 10 points, became the 39th player in program history to score 1,000 career points earlier in the game. Fry now has 1,008 career points.

The Wildcats' first opportunity to clinch a postseason berth comes Saturday, Feb. 17, when they host Baker University at Charles Field House in the final home game of the 2023-24 campaign. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m.

GAME NOTES:

• The Wildcats led 35-33 at halftime and improved to 11-2 when leading at the half this season.
• C-SC shot 50 percent from the field, making 34 of their 68 shots in the game. It is the fourth time this year the Wildcats have shot 50 percent or better in a game. They have a 3-1 record in those games.
• The 31 points scored by Graceland's Ryan Bartley was the most by a Wildcat opponent this season.