The Charger men's basketball team fell to cross-town rival Morningside 77-63 inside the Newman Flanagan Center Wednesday evening.
 
Briar Cliff and Morningside traded baskets early in the contest, with the Chargers holding a slim 9-8 lead after five minutes of play. The Mustangs would use an 8-2 run to take a 16-11 lead with little over 12 minutes remaining in the contest.
 
A pair of free throws from Ryan Kleppe followed by a three from Dawson Mohr brought the game within two. Morningside shot 65% from the field and connected on five three-point attempts to take a 10-point lead heading into the break.
 
The Cliff in the second half battled back, cutting the lead to six with 12:51 remaining following a basket from Wil Lugar. The Chargers were unable to string stops together in the final minutes of the contest and converted on 35% of their attempts in the second half.
 
Blake Sindelar paced the Chargers with 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in the contest. Jaxson Wingert finished with 16 points and shot 50% from the field and six-for-seven from the free throw line. Kleppe in his first career start scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds. Lugar finished with seven points and grabbed nine rebounds.
 
The Chargers move to 6-5 (3-3 GPAC) and will return to the Newman Flanagan Center this Saturday to host the Hastings Broncos. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.