Wilberforce, Ohio - The Marian men's basketball led for just 27 seconds on Saturday, doing all they could to force overtime in their season opener at Wilberforce, but were unable to take a lead in the extra period, dropping the contest 93-85. 

The Bulldogs scored the first seven points of the game Saturday, leaving the Knights in a hole off the opening tip. Noah Lovan scored Marian's first points of the regular season less than two minutes into play with a three-pointer, with Joshua Renfro following up with a three of his own later. The freshman's first collegiate points brought Marian within two, while Ehladj Diallo scored on a driving layup to tie the game at 11. 

The early scoring the first five minutes slowed over the next five, as Wilberforce expanded their lead to four with a pair of baskets. The Bulldog lead ballooned to six before Diallo and Humphrey were able to cut the deficit back within two scores. Trailing 23-19 with 5:51 to play in the first half, the Knights' defense suffered a lapse, allowing consecutive scores from the Bulldogs to see their margin grow to eight points. Marian would fight back, as a Renfro layup with 4:49 to play sparked a 9-0 run, with Humphrey capitalizing the run on a layup to give his team a 28-27 lead. 

The lead would last just 27 seconds, as Wilberforce managed to go back on top with a Daiquan Coach three, helping the hosts go into halftime with a 36-30 lead.

Scoring picked up in the second half, but the Knights were unable to get the game within three points, trailing by double digits for multiple moments of the period. Wilberforce pushed their lead to 11 points in the first three minutes of the half, holding a three or four possession advantage for much of the first 10 minute of the half. The Knights were able to get back within striking distance at the 10:39 mark, as a Noah Lovan basket and four Luke Carroll free throws whittled the lead to three.

Wilberforce would push their lead back to seven as the half wore on, seeing Marian trail 66-59 with 7:14 to play in regulation. A surge from the home team over the next three minutes saw their lead bloom to 10, and eventually reaching 14 points on a three-point play converted by Jaiden Wynn. 

Down 78-64 on the board, Marian methodically attacked the Bulldogs, getting five quick points from Lovan to cut the game to nine. Stepping up their defense, a steal from Lovan and set up Humphrey for a score, while the sophomore guard later drove into the paint for a layup to make it a two-score game. A technical on the Bulldogs sent Luke Carroll to the line with 1:07 to play, allowing the senior to slash the score to three points. A missed free throw by the Bulldogs allowed the Knights a chance to get off one final look in regulation to tie the game, and in the waning seconds, Ron Rutland III drained a three-pointer, forcing OT with the score tied 78-78.

Marian closed the half on a 14-0 run, but in doing so, exerted intense energy, allowing Wilberforce to begin the extra possession with the upperhand and two early scores. Aidan Franks dropped the team's first two points in the bonus quarter, but the Knights were unable to keep Wilberforce off the board, as free throws and good baskets bolstered the home team to an 88-82 lead. Carroll would miss a three with 65 seconds to play in the game, forcing Marian into fouling late, as Wilberforce expanded their lead to the eventual final score of 93-85.

Aaron Humphrey Jr and Noah Lovan led Marian in scoring in the loss, with each scoring 17 points. Humphrey led the team with nine rebounds. Renfro scored 14 in his collegiate debut, and Rutland III scored 12 in his first game as a Knight. 

Marian ended the game shooting 48 percent from the field and 78 percent at the charity stripe.

Marian will next play on November 4, hosting Olivet Nazarene in their home opener. 

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