NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team led for most of the first half but could not hold off Carleton College in a 61-47 defeat Monday night at West Gym. The loss leaves the Scots with a 3-9 record overall and a 1-6 mark in conference play, while the Knights improve to 8-4, 5-2 MIAC.

Macalester jumped out to a 13-7 lead following back-to-back threes from senior guard Kyle Bernhard (Sleepy Hollow, Ill./Dundee-Crown), and maintained a six-point lead to the 7:20 mark of the half. Carleton answered by closing out the period with a 13-7 run to tie the score at 26-26 by halftime. Bernhard had eight points as the Scots shot 47.8 percent from the field in the first half compared to 42.9 percent for the Knights.

Carleton carried the momentum into the second half, scoring 11 of the first 13 points after halftime to take control of the game, 37-28 with 15:14 to play. The lead grew to as many as 11 points, 43-32 with 9:22 to play before Macalester fought to get back in the game. Three-pointers by Bernhard and first year forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) sparked a 10-3 run that brought the Scots to within four, 46-42 with seven minutes remaining. But Carleton tallied the next eight points, including a pair of layups by Tianen Chen, to lead 54-42 with 2:37 left and put the game out of reach.

The Knights shot 50.0 percent from the field in the second half while holding the Scots to 32.1 percent. Bernhard led Macalester with 15 points while making 3-of-6 from three-point range. Junior center Kareem Ismail (Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Prep) contributed 14 points and four rebounds before fouling out, while first year guard Michael Gutierrez (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Prep Academy) also hit three three-pointers and finished with nine points and a team-high eight rebounds. Chen led all players with 18 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

Macalester continues MIAC play with a home game against St. Olaf on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.