CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Earlham College men's basketball team started the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference portion of its schedule on Saturday as the Quakers dropped a 63-44 decision at the College of Mount St. Joseph.

Ryan Taylor (Martinsville, IN, Martinsville) led the Quakers with 10 points, while Colton Bragg (Richmond, IN, Richmond) added eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Justin Barger (Ellettsville, IN, Edgewood) and Marcus Bledsoe (Indianapolis, IN, Ritter) tossed in seven points each. Kyle Calder (Crawfordsville, IN, North Montgomery) led Earlham with four assists and he also grabbed four rebounds.

The Lions (4-2, 1-1) got off to an 11-1 advantage to begin the contest.

The Quakers were able to rally as Bledsoe closed the gap to 22-16 when he scored at the 8:03 mark of the first half.

Taylor got the Quakers closer when a basket at 3:15 to make it 24-20. Mount St. Joseph held off the Quakers to lead 29-22 at intermission.

In the second half, the Lions built a 48-26 lead with 9:38 remaining in the game.

Earlham responded with 10 straight points capped to make it 48-36 with 5:42 to go.

Bledsoe made it 50-39 when he hit a pair of free throws with 4:00 left, but the Lions maintained their lead the rest of the way.

The Quakers (0-7, 0-1) are back in action on Wednesday at home against Transylvania University. The HCAC contest on Schuckman Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center begins at 7:30 p.m.

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