WATERTOWN, Wis. - The Martin Luther College men's basketball team put together its best offensive performance of the season in a 96-63 win at Maranatha Baptist University (MBU) on Saturday. 

The Knights were in control from start to finish, scoring three seconds into the game off the opening tip and never trailing the rest of the way.

MLC shot 55.9 percent from the field in the first half on the way to a 48-23 halftime lead. All 10 players who played in the half scored at least two points, led by Micah Kieselhorst and Jack Heichelbech with eight points apiece. 

Not satisfied with their 25-point lead, the Knights opened the second half with a 22-7 run to push the lead as high as 40 points to put the game away.

The Knights set new season highs for points (96), field goal percentage (56.3), three-pointers made (12) and three-point percentage (60.0) in the win, and finished with four players in double figures in the scoring column.

The defensive effort matched the offense throughout the night, as well, forcing the Sabercats into 22 turnovers that led to 32 points on the other end, while also holding MBU to 39.6 percent shooting from the field and 30.8 percent (8-26) from beyond the arc for the game.

Joseph Hirsch led the scoring effort with 22 points, while Ezra Blumer (15 points), Kieselhorst (14) and Heichelbech (12) joined him in double figures. Heichelbech and Blumer also tied for the team lead with seven rebounds. Blumer added a team-best four assists.

The Knights improved to 3-16 on the season with the win. MBU fell to 2-12 in defeat.

MLC will return to action on Friday, February 4, when it hosts UW-Superior in a game scheduled to tip off at 7:15 p.m.