Winona Lake, Ind. - In a thrilling Saturday showdown, the Marian men's basketball team gave it their all against first-ranked Grace College, but despite leading the first 37 minutes of the game, Marian came up short in the winning moments as they lost 66-60. Marian falls to 14-6 overall on the year, as their three-game losing streak slides them to 4-6 in Crossroads League play.

Marian entered Saturday with an upset mentality, as they hammered Grace early with an 8-0 run in the games first 2:36, as a pair of three-point makes from Brody Whitaker and Gus Etchison got the Knights off on the right foot. The Lancers would find their offense and scored three consecutive field goals to make it a one-score game at the first media timeout, but Marian regained their edge as Maximus Gizzi scored back to back baskets. A three-point make from Josh Bryan increased Marian's lead to 10 points just over seven minutes into the game, but after the hot start offense would soon be hard to find.

The Knights scored just 10 points for the remainder of the first half after Bryan's three at the 12:45 mark, as missed shots marred their strong start to the game. With their opponent struggling on the offensive end Grace attempted to find an opportunity on their scoring trips, but unable to get closer than five points of Marian. Tough defensive play that forced eight first half turnovers prevented the Lancers from catching a rhythm, and allowed Marian to enter the half with a lead. The period would endure a near-three minute scoring drought, and when over Marian would see their lead grow back to as many as nine before settling into a 27-20 halftime lead.

Both teams shot under 35 percent from the field in the first half while combining for 13 turnovers. Marian limited the Lancer offense to just one made three point field goal in the first half.

Marian continued to hold their share of the lead as the second half started, keeping a distance of three possessions through the the first 2:26 of the half. A three-point make from Whitaker gave Marian a 32-24 lead early in the half, but a 5-0 response by Grace soon forced a Marian timeout and changed the tide in the game. The teams matched each other shot-for-shot for large stretches of the half, as neither scored on consecutive possessions for over eight minutes. 

Shots from Josh Bryan and Gizzi kept Marian in a lead of three-to-seven points in the eight minute stretch, and a knockdown jumper from Ben Henderson at the 10:10 mark gave Marian a 46-39 lead. Grace would answer the Henderson make with a 7-0 run after returning to play following the under-10 minute media timeout, leveling the score at 46-46 with 7:46 to play. Gavin Foe responded and ended Marian's near-three minute drought with a jumper, and sparked a 5-0 run as a fastbreak three from Whitaker increased Marian's lead to five.

With seven minutes to play Marian led 51-46, but were unable to overcome the final roar from the Grace, as five unanswered points during a 2:42 Marian drought brought the game to a 51-51 draw. Bryan and Jakob Gibbs followed with back to back three's to keep the score even, and Whitaker pushed Marian on top 56-54 with 3:31 to play. With Grace building steam, the home team claimed their first lead of the game with 3:09 to play, going in front 57-56 on a Jake Wadding three. Marian was unable to answer the back and forth nature of the game, and without a score to push back in front, a Carter Stoltzfus three on the Lancers' next possession put the game in jeopardy as the home team claimed a two-score lead.

Marian would go just 1-for-7 from the field in the final 3:30 of the game, scoring just four points total in the stretch, all in the final minute. Jackson Ames was able to make it a two-point game with the team's only make in the waning minutes, but an answer from Elijah Malone on the Grace end sealed the game, as Marian would go on to fall 66-60.

The Knights finished the game shooting 36.5 percent from the floor, with 26 of their attempts coming from beyond the arc, while their opponent ended the game shooting 48 percent from the floor, including a second-half clip of 60.7 percent. Whitaker led the Knights with 19 points in the game, and Gizzi scored 13 points to go with six rebounds a team-best three assists. Bryan scored nine points in the game, and Jackson Ames scored six points while collecting nine rebounds.

Marian will return home as they look to snap their losing skid, hosting Spring Arbor on Wednesday, January 31 at 7:30 p.m.

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