Information courtesy of MLC Athletics

Men’s basketball

MANKATO — The Martin Luther College men’s basketball team was unable to overcome dry spells to end both halves in a 94-72 loss at Bethany Lutheran College in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action on Wednesday.

The Vikings closed both halves with big runs on the way to the win. It started in the first half, as the Knights held a 36-32 lead with 6:51 to play before the break, but BLC closed the half with a 21-4 run to take a 53-40 lead into halftime.

The Knights cut the deficit to 8 points (72-64) with 7:31 to play in regulation, but BLC put the game away with a 16-1 run over the next 4 minutes on the way to the win.

MLC was unable to slow down the Vikings on the offensive end, as BLC finished the game shooting 53.6% from the field and made 10 of 26 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc. The Knights shot 39.2% for the game.

Ian Paulsen led MLC with 16 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Austin DeNoyer added 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Knights fell to 4-14 on the season and 1-9 in UMAC play in defeat. BLC improved to 14-5 overall and 9-1 in league play with the win.

MLC will return home to host Northland College on Saturday in a game scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m.

Women’s basketball

MANKATO — The MLC women’s basketball team lost to first-place Bethany Lutheran College 97-64 in UMAC action on Wednesday.

The Vikings took control from the start and built a 30-12 lead after the first quarter.

The Knights battled back in the second quarter, out-scoring BLC 21-16 to cut the halftime deficit to 13 points (46-33), but the Vikings were able to put the game away with a 32-point third quarter on the way to the win.

The Vikings were efficient on offense throughout the game and shot 50% from the field despite shooting 5-of-21 from beyond the three-point arc. MLC shot 33.8% for the game.

Emily Witkowski finished with a game-high 18 points and tied Cassandra Rose for the team lead with seven rebounds. Kortney Behnke and Emily Rothfuss each scored 10 points for MLC.

The Knights fell to 1-17 on the season and 1-9 in UMAC play in defeat. BLC improved to 16-2 overall and 9-1 in league play with the win.

MLC will return to action on Saturday when it hosts Northland College in a game scheduled to tip off at 4:45 p.m.