Juniors John Beineke and Aaron Mann combined for 41 points, but it was not enough for the Franklin College men’s basketball in a 76-66 loss Saturday at Mount St. Joseph University.
Beineke scored a game-high 24 points, while Mann added 17 points.
Mount St. Joseph, which is tied for first place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference at 5-1, used a 13-2 run midway through the second half to build a 68-53 advantage with 5:19 left.
Franklin (1-12, 1-5 HCAC) could only get as close as nine points, 71-62, following a three-point field goal by Mann with 3:08 left.
The Lions held a 36-35 halftime advantage as both teams battled closely through the first 20 minutes.
Senior Matt Niehoff scored 13 points to round out Franklin’s offensive attack.
Franklin returns to action Wednesday against visiting HCAC rival Transylvania.
