ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College men's basketball team lost a non-conference game to Crown College, 97-83 in the home opener Thursday night in the Leonard Center. The defeat evens the Scots' record at 1-1, while the Storm improves to 2-1.

Macalester led 16-15 following a basket by sophomore center Jackson Henningfield (Lake Mary, Fla./Lyman). Crown used a 23-6 run to take control of the game and lead 38-22 with seven minutes left in the first half. Baskets by senior forward Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) and sophomore guard Gabriel Ramos (Dorado, Puerto Rico/Tasis Dorado) helped the Scots cut the deficit to 10, 49-39 at the break.

Early in the second half, a conventional three-point play by first year guard Nick Scibelli (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) brought Macalester to within seven, 51-44. Each time the Scots cut the Storm's lead to single digits, Crown would answer, preventing the home team from building momentum. With the score 71-61 with 9:29 on the clock, the Storm reeled off a 13-6 run to lead 84-67 with six minutes remaining. Macalester responded with a 10-2 run that included four points from Henningfield, but it wasn't enough, as Crown pushed the lead back to 17 before the final buzzer.

For the game, the Scots shot 50.8 percent from the field despite making just 20.8 percent from beyond the arc. Crown went to the line 32 times, making 27, compared to 12-of-19 for Macalester.

Henningfield, who tallied a career-high 32 points in the season-opening win at North Central last Thursday, led the Scots with 28 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the field. He also grabbed eight rebounds. Ferm finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, while first year guard Eric Sathy (Cupertino, Calif./Homestead) added 17 points, seven boards and three assists. Ramos had 12 points and five assists to give Macalester four players in double-figures. Keegan Oyugi paced the Storm with 27 points and five assists.  

The Scots host Beloit College in another non-conference game on Saturday, Nov. 17, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.