NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team defeated Finlandia University by the score of 91-83 for its first win of the 2021 season on Saturday. 

The Lions jumped out front early with a 10-2 run to open the game, but MLC responded with a 23-4 run to take a big early lead.

The Knights would never relinquish that lead, although the Lions did make a run in the second half that cut their deficit to only one point (75-74) with over five minutes to play in regulation, but MLC was strong with the ball down the stretch and held them off for the win.

With the Lions' playing their first game of the season, the depth of the Knights, developed in the early portion of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) season, showed up in a big way. The MLC bench out-scored the Lions 42-9 for the game, with Ezra Blumer (14 points) and Caleb Westra (12 points) each making timely shots and other plays throughout the game. Jonathan Riebe (nine points, five assists) also came up big down the stretch on both ends of the court.

MLC also controlled the game down low, out-scoring the Lions 56-42 in the paint.

Jack Heichelbech led the Knights down low with 16 points, tying him with Joey Behm for the scoring lead. Five MLC players finished the game in double figures, including Blumer, Westra and Jared Witkowiak, who scored 11 points and blocked a pair of shots. 

MLC improved to 1-3 on the season with the win. Finlandia fell to 0-1 in defeat.

The Knights will return to action on Monday, February 8, when they host UW-Superior in a game scheduled to start at 7 p.m.