INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University men's bowling team started hot and finished in 16th place out of a strong 77-team field at the 2012 Backhaul Direct Hoosier Classic at Western Bowl in Indianapolis over the weekend.

The Knights tallied 8,423 total pins for a nine-game average of 935.889, which put them 59 pins back of 14th place. The field consisted of 32 NCAA Division I programs, including powerhouse Wichita State University, which won the event.

Sophomore Matt Staninger led the Knights after he placed 72nd in a field of more than 500 bowlers. Staninger tallied 1,682 total pins for an eight-game average of 210.25 to lead MU. He was the second-highest finisher that bowled eight of the nine games.

Sophomore Jordan Gray tallied 1,491 total pins for an eight-game average of 186.38, while sophomore Lucas Ewing tallied 1,177 total pins for a six-game average of 196.17.

Sophomore Brad Caron tallied 1,096 total pins for a six-game average of 182.67, while sophomore Beau Hadley finished with 1,059 total pins for a six-game average of 176.5. Sophomore Adam Arthur finisehd with 886 total pins for a five-game average of 177.2, while sophomore Kevin Rush finished with 863 total pins and a five-game average of 172.6. Sophomore T.J. McClelland bowled one game for a 169.

They will head to the American Heartland Intercollegiate Bowling Conference Championships on Saturday at Crest Lanes in Warren, Ohio to close out the regular season.

The Knights will find out where they will travel to for the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Intercollegiate Team Championships Sectional Qualifying which takes place in four locations on March 9-11.

The USBC will stream the USBC Collegiate ITC Sectionals Assignments Show on Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. You can watch the event LIVE at http://www.youtube.com/bowltv.