CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - On a day where a handful of seniors were honored inside Hennessey Recreation Center, it was freshman Chad Underwood who stole the show.

The unlikely candidate to help sink the Saints seemingly couldn't miss from the field as he scored 18 of his career-high 19 points in the second half to help Mt. Mercy College put together a 91-73 win over the Ashford University men's basketball team on Saturday.

The loss dashed Ashford's (19-11, 10-6 MCC) hopes of sharing the regular-season Midwest Collegiate Conference title with Grand View University.

Now a No. 4 seed to begin the conference tournament, the Saints will play host to fifth-seeded St. Ambrose University on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Mustangs head into the postseason riding a five-game win streak.

"It would have been great to finish out the regular season with a road win," AU Head Coach Andy Eberhart said. "There was a point in the second half where we couldn't match up as well as we did in the first half and it cost us down the stretch. We're excited that the conference tournament is here and we now shift our focus to St. Ambrose."

Senior guard Daniel Joiner of West Chicago, Ill., led five Saints in double figures with a team-high 19 points. Peter Tanzillo of Kewanee, Ill., added 13 with eight rebounds and three players (Rashad Carrington, Matthias Burns, Byron Emerson) had 11 for Ashford.

Underwood was one of six Mt. Mercy players in double figures as the Mustangs shot a scorching 61.4 percent from the field and broke open a close game at halftime. He scored 14 straight points as Mt. Mercy pulled away in the second half.

Forward Keith Kuenstling added 17 points, forward Marty Tope had 15, Jordan Ask scored 10 of his 12 in the first half and senior David Trumblee chipped in 10.

Eleven ties and 15 lead changes had the Saints up 34-33 at the end of the first half.

After it looked like momentum would swing back and forth once again in the second period, Mt. Mercy put together an 11-0 run on the back of Underwood and were up by 17 just five minutes later.

Underwood had back-to-back layups, hit a pair of free throws and ripped down a one-handed dunk following a steal. The next two possessions he spotted up from the corner and nailed a pair of 3-pointers.

Mt. Mercy starters James Henderson and Josh Watzenauer, inactive for the first regular-season meeting against Ashford, each made noticeable contributions. Watzenauer grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked three shots in the first half.

The Mustangs made 21-of-28 attempts from the field in the second half, a 75 percent clip.

Emerson fouled out with more than nine minutes left in regulation. Tanzillo would also join him on the bench with his fifth foul in the second half.

The Saints struggled shooting to the tune of 38.5 percent from the floor.

Ashford finishes the regular season 19-11 and will host the Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose in a Wednesday quarterfinal matchup in Kehl Arena. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to meet top-seeded Grand View University or No. 9 Iowa Wesleyan College/No. 8 Clarke College.