MANKATO, Minn. - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team was unable to overcome dry spells to end both halves in a 94-72 loss at Bethany Lutheran College on Wednesday.

The Vikings closed both halves with big runs on the way to the win. It started in the first half, as the Knights held a 36-32 lead with 6:51 to play before the break, but BLC closed the half with a 21-4 run to take a 53-40 lead into halftime.

The Knights cut the deficit to eight points (72-64) with 7:31 to play in regulation, but BLC put the game away with a 16-1 run over the next four minutes on the way to the win. 

MLC was unable to slow down the Vikings on the offensive end, as BLC finished the game shooting 53.6 percent from the field and made 10 of 26 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. The Knights shot 39.2 percent for the game.

Ian Paulsen led MLC with 16 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Austin DeNoyer added 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Knights fell to 4-14 on the season and 1-9 in UMAC play in defeat. BLC improved to 14-5 overall and 9-1 in league play with the win.

MLC will return home to host Northland College on Saturday, February 1, in a game scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.