INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian men's basketball team returned to the PE Center on Wednesday night, aiming to snap its losing skid, but the Knights were unable to overcome a game-changing 14-2 run in the second half by Mount Vernon Nazarene, as the Knights fell 73-64. Marian slides to 5-18 on the season and 2-11 in the Crossroads League following the loss, as interim head coach Todd Howard led the Knights in the game.

The Knights got off to a slow start on the offensive end on Wednesday, as the Cougars rolled off a 6-1 run in the game's first four minutes. Marian finally got in a groove with a Josiah Gustin putback, while a Ron Rutland III trifecta started to get the home team buzzing in the right direction. The game teetered back and forth as the low-scoring start continued past the 10-minute mark, as Marian would for a total of 51 seconds before a Mount Vernon Nazarene run of six unanswered points took place. 

The run gave the Cougars a 16-11 lead with 9:55 to play before the intermission, but Marian would slowly get back in a groove, going through Rutland and Aidan Franks to whittle the deficit. A Luke Carroll three-pointer and Blake Russell mid-range jumper helped Marian once again reclaim a lead, as the team changed their fortunes with a 15-5 run. Rutland gave Marian a 26-21 lead with 3:57 to play as he buried another three, however, the offensive surge was not enough to keep Marian on top at the break.

Dylan Moles kept the edge at five with 2:33 to play as he drained a jumper in the lane, but a defensive breakdown for Marian would let Mount Vernon back in the game, with the Cougars ending the half on an 8-0 run, taking a 31-28 lead into the locker room.

Trying to avoid another late-half mishap burn the Knights' chances, Marian came out strong to start the second half, making three of its first five shots from the floor to go on a 7-2 run, tying the game. Aaron Humphrey Jr. put his stamp on the run with a layup that gave the Knights a lead, but the Cougars were once again able to overcome the threat, remaining in the lead with driving layups from Devin Dreier and open three-pointers from their wings.

With 13:18 to play in the game, Aidan Franks drained a shot from downtown, cutting Marian back within three once more, trailing 45-42. The Knights got a stop immediately on the defensive end as Josiah Gustin swatted away a layup, but the team could not deny the Cougars, as Mount Vernon Nazarene heated up quickly with its game-altering 14-2 run. Abib Abib of Mount Vernon scored eight of the 14 points in Mount Vernon's scoring tear, pushing the Cougars ahead 59-44 with 9:16 to play. 

Marian stayed in the game as Blake Russell made a jump shot, later getting a pair of Aaron Humphrey Jr. layups to keep the game within four scores firmly. Another four points from Humphrey Jr. slashed the MVNU lead to eight points with 2:50 to play, but the Cougars were able to keep their composure and preserve a lead. Trent Koning ascended the MVNU lead to 12 with 1:33 to play after sinking a layup, but Marian would give one final push, getting three consecutive layups to make it a six-point game. Trailing 70-64 and having to play the foul game, Marian was unable to get a basket to extend its hopes, as Mount Vernon would knock down three foul shots and seal the game 73-64.

Aaron Humphrey Jr. and Ron Rutland III each scored 13 points in the loss, while Humphrey had 10 rebounds to secure a double-double. Aidan Frnaks scored 11 points, and Josiah Gustin had nine points, two blocks, three steals, and a game-high 12 rebounds. 

Marian will attempt to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon, as they host #24 Taylor at 3:00 p.m.

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