MISHAWAKA, Indiana - For the second time in as many contests, the Marian College men's basketball team nearly pierced the armor of the No. 4-ranked Bethel College Pilots in Mishawaka, Indiana, on Tuesday night.

 

Earlier this season, the Knights nearly pulled an upset of the then-No. 2 Pilots at home before falling 85-82. Tuesday night proved to be just as exciting as the Knights came up just short in a 78-74 defeat at Bethel.

 

The Knights jumped out in front, 14-7, with 14:46 to go in the first half before Bethel clawed back to snag a 23-22 lead with 5:30 to go. Bethel took a four-point lead, 36-32, into the locker room, but the Knights looked as if they might be able to pull the upset.

 

After sophomore Anthony Furlin knocked down a three to open the second frame, the Pilots pushed the lead to nine, 48-39, with 15:07 to go in the game.

 

The Knights fought to within four, but Bethel was able to retake a nine-point advantage, 57-48, with 11:09 to go. However, a 10-2 Knights run cut the gap to just one, 59-58, with 8:50 to go.

 

Bethel pushed the lead back to four, but the Knights were able to close it to one, 62-61, with 7:08 to go on another three-pointer by Furlin.

 

A 6-0 Pilots run pushed the lead to seven, 68-61, with 5:29 to go and the Knights could only get as close as three before Bethel was able to hang on for the 78-74 victory.

 

Sophomore Anthony Furlin (Fishers, Indiana/Hamilton Southeastern) had a game-high 35 points including 23 in the second half. He was six-for-10 from the three-point line and 12-of-24 from the field for the game.

 

Freshman Jameson Wheeler (Plainfield, Indiana/Plainfield) had a game-high six assists while sophomore Tyler Kleinschmidt (Indianapolis/Bishop Chatard) finished with a team-high six rebounds.

 

The Knights fell to 10-13 on the season and 1-12 in Mid-Central College Conference play.

 

Marian College returns home on Saturday when the No. 7-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats come to the Physical Education Center. Tip is slated for 3 p.m. with the game being called LIVE on XL 950 with Brad Wochomurka (p-b-p) and director of athletics Joe Haklin (color) calling all the action beginning at 2:50 p.m.