FRANKLIN, Ind. — The Earlham College men's basketball team had five players in double figures on Saturday as the Quakers started the new year with a 95-82 loss at Franklin College.

Lajay Kelly led the Quakers with 17 points in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference affair.

Patrick Hawkins tossed in 15 points, while he and Kelly led the Quakers with six rebounds each.

Taylen Alexander and Elijah Wilson-Thomas scored 13 points apiece with Kyle Smith adding 10 points.

Kelly and Alexander both finished with three assists.

The game was tight early and Smith kept the Quakers close at 9-6 when he scored at 14:55.

Franklin (2-9, 1-3) eventually built 40-22 margin with 5:46 remaining in the first half.

The Quakers battled back to close the gap to 45-40 with 1:10 left in the frame after Alexander scored.

By halftime, the Grizzlies led 49-40.

In the second half, the Quakers were able to cut the deficit to 49-43 when Smith scored with 17:12 to go in the contest.

From that time, the Quakers could get at close as nine points, which they did several times the rest of the way.

Earlham (0-11, 0-4) entertains the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Wednesday in the annual John Mutchner Cup contest. The HCAC game on Schuckman Court in the Athletics and Wellness Center starts at 7:30 p.m.