The Muhlenberg men's basketball team fell to Penn State Harrisburg, 81-59, in the first round of Lebanon Valley's Rinso Marquette Invitational.

The Mules got off to slow starts in both halves and were able to overcome one, but not the other, in suffering their first loss of the season. They will play in the consolation game against Lebanon Valley, an 83-73 loser to Delaware Valley.

Just like it did in Tuesday's win at Drew, Muhlenberg trailed 23-12 in the first half. But the Mules held the Lions - a team that received votes in the final D3hoops.com poll of the 2019-20 season - to two field goals over a span of more than eight-and-a-half minutes. Muhlenberg closed the half with a 19-8 run, started by back-to-back three-pointers by freshman Jayson Williams-Johnson, and went into the break tied at 31-all.

Junior Justin Allen made a free throw in the first minute of the second half to give the Mules a 32-31 edge, but Harrisburg scored the next seven points to take the lead for good. The Lions opened up a 12-point advantage six minutes into the half and maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way.

Senior Dan Gaines led the Mules with 19 points on the strength of 4-for-6 shooting from three-point range. He also had 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Senior Noah Watson (pictured above) also scored in double figures with 11 points.