INDIANAPOLIS - Despite opening an eight-point lead in the first half, the Marian University men's basketball team could not hang on as the No. 23-ranked University of Saint Francis (Ind.) overtook the Knights en route to a 67-56 win at the Physical Education Center on Saturday.

The Knights fell to 4-5 overall and 0-3 in the MCC, while USF improved to 7-3 and 2-1 in MCC play.

Over the 12:33 of the game the Knights and Cougars went back-and-forth in a span that featured nine ties and one lead change. MU took the lead, 19-17, with 7:02 remaining, and, with 1:41 to go in the half, a steal by junior Tyler Kleinschmidt (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) and layup by sophomore Jameson Wheeler (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) put the Knights up by eight at 30-22.

The Cougars trimmed the lead back to five at 32-27 when the buzzer sounded to end the half. The Knights outscored USF by a 10-point margin, 22-12, in the paint, and they capitalized on 15 USF turnovers to the tune of 14 points.

The Knights came out of the locker room cold, they scored just one field goal over the first 3:40, and enabled the Cougars to tie the score at 37 with 14:54 remaining. A three-pointer by freshman Mac Fiely (Greenville, Ohio/Greenville) put the Knights back up by three at 40-37. However a 9-2 USF run put the Cougars ahead 44-42 with 10:40 to go.

After cutting the lead back to one at 47-46, the Knights did not hit a shot for the next five minutes. USF went on a 14-0 run during that span to open a 15-point lead, 61-46. The Knights never recovered as USF cruised to the 67-56 win.

MU's 10-point edge in the paint was erased as USF outscored the Knights by a 14-6 margin in the second half. The Knights also shot just 28 percent (7-of-25) in the second half and were out-shot 20-11 from the free throw line.

Junior Jordan Tucker (Kirklin, Ind./Clinton Central) led two Knights in double figures with 15 points and had a team-high eight rebounds. Fiely added 12 points, his first double-digit scoring game, for the Knights.

MU heads to Clarksville, Tenn., to take on Austin Peay State University on Saturday in an exhibition game. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m.