Marian University Ind.

INDIANAPOLIS - Marian built an early lead Wednesday night, but failed to hold their edge throughout the game, as No. 21 Indiana Tech used a 24-6 first half run to take the lead for good as the Knights fell 88-79 in their fourth game of the season. The loss drops the men's basketball team to 0-4.

Marian got off to a strong start Tuesday night, going through Ron Rutland III and Dylan Moles in the opening minutes, with the pair of guards combining for 12 early points. Marian led 15-8 at the opening media timeout behind the strong start, but after the break, suffered a lapse on defense, giving up an 8-0 run that allowed Indiana Tech to take 16-15 edge. Blake Russell's first basket of the game pulled the Knights back on top, while an Aaron Humphrey Jr. fastbreak layup ensured a 19-18 lead going into the second media timeout.

Baskets from Rutland and Elhadj Diallo helped Marian stay in front out of the timeout, while another jumper from Rutland with 7:32 extended the Knights' lead to seven at 25-18. After the make from Rutland III, Marian's fortune began to turn, as the Warriors went on a commanding 24-6 run in the final seven minutes of the half. A three from Logan Beaston started the visiting scoring spree, as the Warriors would go on to make 10 of their final 12 shots in the period to take a 42-31 lead at the break.

The Warriors continued to stay on top as the second half began, scoring five of the first nine points in the period to push their lead to 12. The Knights took a quick timeout to try and halt the Indiana Tech start, but were unable to contain the scoring as the deficit grew to 13. Dylan Moles and Joshua Renfro put pressure on the Warriors coming out of the next stoppage in the game as the scores slashed the difference to seven, but a quick answer from Blake Davison kept Indiana Tech in the lead. 

Indiana Tech gradually pushed their lead to 13 points as the clock neared the 10-minute mark of the second half, taking a 66-53 edge over Marian. The Knights would eventually fall behind by by 16 points with 8:36 to play, but slowly mounted a comeback attempt with scores from Renfro and Diallo. Aidan Franks' lone make of the evening with 6:44 to play cut the score to 11, with a Luke Carroll layup moments later making the contest a three-possession game. 

The score from Carroll made it a 71-62 score, but Marian was unable to pick up a stop on their ensuing possession, as Indiana Tech's Branden Northern scored inside to move the lead back into double digits. The score going into the final media timeout deflated Marian's comeback chances, and Indiana Tech would cash in, using a 7-0 run following a three from Diallo to make the game a 15-point contest. The late push turned the game into an 82-67 score, sealing the victory for the Warriors, who would close the game with an 88-79 final score.

Renfro and Humphrey Jr. led Marian in scoring with 16 points each, while Rutland III scored 13 points in addition to seven assists. Humphrey finished the game with a double-double, securing 12 rebounds in the loss. Moles scored 12 points, and Diallo led the bench with 12 points. 

Marian shot 40 percent from the floor in the loss, while holding a plus-six margin in rebounds. The Knights committed just three turnovers as a team in the loss. 

Marian will return to the hardwood this Saturday at 5:00 p.m. when they are scheduled to host IU-Southeast. 

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