PHOTOS

Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College men's basketball team lost its Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) opener 75-65 to Defiance College on Saturday from the Spurlock Center.

The Grizzlies had four double-figure scorers, led by 19 points from junior Aaron Mann (Indianapolis, Ind./Howe). Junior John Beineke (Indianapolis, Ind./Perry Meridian) scored 16 points and had eight rebounds. Senior Trae Washington (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington South) chipped in 14 points, while junior Trey Boles (Carrollton, Ky./Carroll County) rounded out the effort with 12 points.

Franklin shot 50 percent in the first half and led 31-30 at the break. However, Defiance (3-3, 2-0 HCAC) got 18 points in the second half from Tyler Alexander to pick up the victory. Alexander finished the contest with 22 points. Michael Parker also scored 22 points for the visitors.

Defiance used a 12-3 run midway through the second half to push its lead to 14 points, 65-51, at the 6:33 mark. Franklin got within nine points, 67-58, with 4:47 remaining following a pair of free throws by Boles. That was as close as the Grizzlies would get in the closing minutes.

Defiance is the reigning conference regular season and tournament champion and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament.

Franklin returns to action on Wednesday, December 9, at 7:30 p.m. when it travels to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in HCAC action in Terre Haute, Indiana. Live video and statistics of the game will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics). Like the Grizzlies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics), and on Instagram (@fcgrizzlies).