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INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University men's basketball team opend the 2009-10 Mid-Central College Conference season with a 62-59 defeat to Spring Arbor University at the Physical Education Center on Tuesday night.

After falling behind by seven, 10-3, with 14:54 to go in the first half, the Knights went on a 16-4 run to take a three-point lead, 19-16, with 9:38 to go. With the score tied, 22-22, and 6:18 remaining in the half, the Knights went on a 9-2 run to take a seven-point lead, 31-24, with 2:23 to go. The Cougars were able to finish the half strong and cut the lead to three, 31-28, heading into the locker room.

While the Knights only shot 39 percent (10-for-26) in the first half, they were 9-for-12 from the free throw line. SAU out-shot the Knights and out-rebounded them in the first frame.

After scoring the first bucket out of the locker room to take a five-point lead,33-28, the Knights suffered an 8-0 SAU run as the Cougars took a 36-33 lead with 17:19 to go in the game. The teams went back-and-forth over the next three minutes when a jumper by junior Jordan Tucker (Kirklin, Ind./Clinton Central) cut the lead back to one, 40-39, with 14:12 to go. That bucket ignited a 9-0 Knights run to give them a seven-point lead, 47-40, with 9:22 remaining.

SAU went on a 9-2 run to tie the score, 49-49, and over the next two minutes the score was tied two more times. However, SAU pushed the lead to four with 25 seconds left, 58-54. Tucker answered with a three-pointer with 18 seconds to go to cut it back to one, but SAU was able to sink its free throws and salt away the 62-59 victory.

Tucker led the way for the Knights with 21 points and added five rebounds. Junior Anthony Furlin (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) added 14 points, while sophomore Alex Sylvester (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) scored 10 points, had a team-high six rebounds, and two steals.

The Knights get back on the court as part of a men's/women's doubleheader on Saturday when they head to Grand Rapids, Mich., for a 3 p.m. tip off against Kuyper College.