Box Score (Fond du Lac, WI) - In a back-and-forth contest on Thursday evening, Maranatha Baptist defeated Marian University 77-71 at Sadoff Gymnasium. The Sabres led 71-70 with 1:36 to play, but didn't score the rest of regulation in the defeat. 

Marian (2-15, 0-9 NAC) led 37-34 at the break thanks to some hot shooting. They hit on 17-of-31 (55%) shots. Donnahugh Brown (Negril, Jamaica) and Sam Forkert (Sister Bay, WI) each scored 10 points in the half. 

In the second, neither team could pull away. The game was within six points throughout the whole half. There were nine ties and eleven lead changes in the period. 

Down 70-69 with 1:36 to play, Brown hit a floating jumper in the paint and was fouled on the play. He missed the free throw, but Marian had a 71-70 lead. The Sabres forced a turnover on the next possession, but couldn't convert and Maranatha got to the foul line on the ensuing possession. Joel Borchardt hit a pair of free throws to give the Crusaders a one-point lead and they didn't trail the rest of the way. 

After a missed jumper by Marian, the Crusaders hit two more free throws to make it a three-point lead. Marian had another three-point attempt with :17 to play, but missed and the Crusaders iced the game from the line. 

Marian finished 28-for-61 (46%) from the field and was led by Jeff Harris (Calumet Park, IL) who finished with 16 points. Brown finished with 15 points, while Forkert finished with 12. Josh Washington (Milwaukee, WI) led Marian on the boards, with 10. He also added 4 assists. 

Maranatha was led by Brendan Brown and Josh Stein. Brown recorded 28 points, while Stein added 22 points and 13 rebounds.