ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team was unable to slow down the Crown College offense in a 91-77 loss on Friday.

The Knights never led in the game, but were able to keep within distance for much of the first half despite the Storm shooting 62.5 percent from the field and 7-15 from beyond the three-point arc before the break. 

Crown was able to build on a ten-point halftime lead in the second half, and the Knights were never able to cut the deficit under five in the second half.

MLC shot 44.9 percent from the field, but Crown finished 52.9 percent overall, and also outscored the Knights from distance (30-18) and at the free throw line (13-9).

The Storm also out-rebounded MLC 42-31, and outscored the Knights 16-7 in second chance points.

Ian Paulsen and T.J. Babinec each finished with 19 points to lead MLC. Jeffrey Parker finished with a career high eight assists to go with his ten points. 

MLC fell to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in UMAC play in defeat. Crown improved its record to 2-5 on the season and 1-1 in league play with the win.

The Knights will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, December 10) when they travel to Minnesota Morris for a game scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.