By Mitch Blankespoor

CHICAGO, Ill. – The Kalamazoo College men' basketball team dropped its first game of the 2013-14 season at the hands of the University of Chicago. The Hornets trailed by eight at halftime but could not regain the lead in the second half and fell to the Phoenix of Chicago 100-83.

Chicago, which improved to 4-2 on the season with the win, came out of the locker room at halftime and promptly scored the first eight points of the second half. All of a sudden, K found itself down 16.

A layup from sophomore guard Mike Oravetz with 13:26 remaining in regulation cut the Phoenix lead to 10 points. K could get no closer.

As in the first four games of the season, Kalamazoo was again led by senior guard Mark Ghafari with 29 points on 10-20 shooting (5-12 3FG). The Grosse Pointe Shores native also recorded three rebounds, a single steal, and a single block.

Junior forward Adam Peters scored 17 points on 7-18 shooting while hauling in six rebounds.

As a team, Kalamazoo shot 42 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from downtown. Chicago, on the other hand, scored on 40 of its 77 shots (51.9 percent). Perhaps the difference in the game was the 14 three-pointers made by Chicago on 32 shots.

Charlie Hughes led Chicago with 20 points while Jordan Smith chipped in 15.

Kalamazoo continues the non-conference potion of its schedule Wednesday, Dec. 4, when the BlueJays of Elmhurst College come to Anderson Athletic Center for an 8:00 p.m. game.