BELOIT, Wis. - Beloit's men's basketball team never stopped battling Saturday afternoon in a 77-65 loss to Monmouth College. The Buccaneers cut an 18-point deficit to just eight in the final minutes, but they couldn't complete the comeback, as Monmouth shot 52 percent (29-56) on the day, including 54 percent (7-13) from 3-point range.

Beloit (4-4, 1-1 MWC) got off to a good start with four quick points by Azeez Ganiyu to start the game, but Monmouth (5-3, 2-0 MWC) would soon tie the score, before taking an 8-6 lead on a jumper by Jordan Metcalf with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. The Buccaneers kept things close for the first half of the opening period, but Monmouth would use a 10-0 run mid-way through the half to take control of the contest and take a 31-20 lead into halftime.

Monmouth scored the first basket of the second half, but Clayton Jenny answered for Beloit with back-to-back jumpers, including a 3-pointer, cutting the deficit to single digits once again. Monmouth scored the next basket to take another double-digit lead, and would take their largest lead of 18 on a dunk by Kendall Brasfield with eight minutes to play. The Buccaneers proved that there is no quit in them, cutting that lead to eight with one minute remaining, in large part because of four Brian Rusch 3-pointers in a four-minute span. That is as close as Beloit would get the rest of the way however, as Monmouth sank four free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Rusch led Beloit with 17 points, including five 3-pointers, while Michael Myles scored 16 off the bench, making 4-of-5 shots from 3-point range. Jenny and Ganiyu each chipped in with 11 points apiece. The Buccaneers finished the game shooting 45 percent (25-56), while making 46 percent (10-22) of their 3-pointers, including 56 percent (9-16) in the second half.

Brasfield scored a game-high 20 points for Monmouth on 9-of-15 shooting. Declan Flynn added 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from 3-point range.

Beloit will try to rebound on Wednesday, when they'll travel tio Ripon College. That game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Willmore Center in Ripon.