NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team played tough against the bigger Central College Dutch team in an 88-69 loss Thursday.

The Dutch featured a height advantage at nearly every position, and used that to their advantage as they out-scored the Knights 40-28 in the paint. Central also won the rebounding battle 58-31, leading to a 22-2 advantage in second-chance points.

MLC fought throughout the first half, and trailed 46-35 at the break, but wasn't able to make a run to cut into the deficit in the second half.

T.J. Babinec and Todd Brassow led MLC with 17 points apiece, while Josh Rathje added 16 points. Babinec made five of his eight attempts from beyond the three-point arc, and also added six rebounds, four steals and three assists. Austin Eisenmann scored ten points off the bench for MLC.

The Knights fell to 0-9 on the season in defeat. Central improved to 8-1 following the win.

MLC will return to action on Saturday, January 2, when it travels to Northland for a game scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.