MARION, Ind. - The Marian University men's basketball team took the nation's No. 5-ranked team Indiana Wesleyan University to the breaking point, but could not complete the upset in an 80-75 overtime defeat on the road at Luckey Arena in Marion, Ind., on Saturday afternoon.

The Knights had a three-game winning streak snapped and fell to 12-13 on the season and 4-10 in Mid-Central College Conference play. A victory would have been the second over a top 10-ranked team in a week.

Sophomore Alex Sylvester (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) led a trio of Knights in double figures with a team-high 20 points and also had a team-high six rebounds. The 20-point game was the eighth of his career and seventh of the season.

The Wildcats jumped out quickly as they took a 12-2 lead over the first 4:36 of the game. The Knights battled back and, eventually, MU cut the lead to one at 19-18 on a bucket by freshman Matt Dickerson (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) with 9:12 remaining in the first frame.

Junior Anthony Furlin (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) hit a bucket with 7:30 to go in the half to give the Knights their first lead of the game, 20-19. The teams went back-and-forth over the next five minutes before a three-pointer put the Wildcats up three, 28-25, with 2:01 to go. A three-pointer from freshman Mac Fiely (Greenville, Ohio/Greenville) tied the score at 28-28, but IWU scored the half's final five points to take a 33-28 lead into the locker room.

The Knights shot just 38 percent (10-of-26) in the first half, while IWU shot 48 percent (15-of-31). MU out-shot the Wildcats from long range as the Knights connected on 40 percent (4-of-10) from three-point land, while IWU connected on 3-of-8 from deep.

The Wildcats pushed the lead to seven with the first bucket of the second half and maintained their seven-point edge, 37-30, for the first 3:29 of the second stanza. However, a 5-0 run cut the lead to two and gave the Knights some momentum with 15:07 to go. Eventually, IWU was able to extend the lead to 10 at 58-48 with 9:46 to go in the game.

But, another Fiely three-pointer capped a timely 7-0 run to cut the lead to three, 58-55, with 7:32 remaining. After IWU pushed the lead back to six, 63-57, the Knights trimmed the lead to two, 63-61, with 6:16 to go. The two teams were not separated by more than three points over the final six minutes, and, with the Knights trailing 68-65, junior Jordan Tucker (Kirklin, Ind./Clinton Central) buried a three-pointer to knot the score at 68-68 with 1:53 remaining. Neither team would score over the final 1:53 and the Knights had succeeded in completing a comeback to take NAIA Division II's No. 5-ranked team to overtime at their place.

The Knights would post the extra session's first points on a pair of Tucker free throws to make the score 70-68, but IWU immediately answered with a 6-0 run to take a 74-70 lead with just 2:47 to go.  The teams traded buckets and, with the score 78-72, junior Brandon Malone (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) buried a three-pointer to cut the lead back to three at 78-75 with 1:15 remaining in the extra frame.

The two teams traded turnovers late, but the Knights were forced to foul and sent IWU to the line for the game-clinching free throws to send the Wildcats to the 80-75 victory.

Both teams were on fire in the second half and overtime. The Knights shot 58 percent (19-of-33), while IWu shot 57 percent (16-of-28) for the 25-minute timeframe. However, MU was out-rebounded 35-27 for the game, including an 11-7 disadvantage in offensive boards.

Tucker finished with 19 points and three rebounds, while Dickerson finished with 12 points and three boards before fouling out. Malone had a game-high six assists.

The Knights stay on the road on Tuesday night when they head to Goshen College for an MCC showdown. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. from the Roman Gingerich Center in Goshen, Ind. LIVE AUDIO will be provided at www.muknights.com.