NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team earned its first win of the new year by the score of 56-54 against Maranatha Baptist University on Saturday.

The Knights built a 12-point halftime lead thanks to a great defensive effort. MLC held the Sabercats to only 17 points in the first half on 25.0 percent shooting while also forcing 10 MBU turnovers.

MBU cut into its deficit early in the second half and took its first lead of the game on a Micah Shepard three-pointer with 4:48 to play in the game. The Sabercats built the lead as high as four points (53-49) with 2:41 to play in the game, but the Knights cut the deficit to one thanks to a three-point play by Ian Paulsen with just over one minute to play. 

Trailing by two in the final minute, Austin DeNoyer put the Knights ahead for good with a three-pointer with 37 seconds left. MBU had two possessions with a chance to tie or take the lead, but the MLC defense held them out of the paint and forced difficult jumpers that missed the mark to give the Knights the win.

DeNoyer finished with a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds in the win. He made seven of 14 attempts from the field and two of four three-pointers. 

Richard Eckmann was a force on the glass with nine rebounds to go with his 12 points, while Nate Lindloff added 10 points on 4-4 shooting from the field despite battling foul trouble throughout the game. 

MLC improved to 2-11 with the win, while MBU fell to 6-4 in defeat. 

The Knights will return to action on Wednesday, January 10, when they host Minnesota Morris in a game scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.