GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College's men's basketball team saw a sizable first-half lead evaporate as Monmouth College rallied for an 85-74 win Wednesday night at Darby Gymnasium.

Grinnell (6-9, 2-5 Midwest Conference) bolted out to a 13-3 lead from the get-go, with Adam Phillips' '23 two 3-pointers sparking the burst. Grinnell kept it up from there, going up by 17 late in the half on David Bluder's '25 free throw before taking a 47-33 lead into the locker room.

The Pioneers twice built their lead to 24 points in the second half, the last time on Phillips' free throws that made it 59-35.

However, Monmouth (9-6, 5-1 MWC) gradually chipped away at the gap and eventually took the lead at 71-70 with 5:24 left. After another basket by the visitors, Dean Mazlish '23 made two free throws and Aiden Gilbert '23 a bucket in the paint to give Grinnell its final lead of 74-73 with 2:40 left.

Monmouth finished off the game with a 12-0 run as Grinnell missed its final half-dozen shots. After shooting 42.5 percent from the field in the first half, the Pioneers had a cold streak of 22.9 percent in the final 20 minutes.

Mazlish scored a career-high 16 points to lead Grinnell, Gilbert finished with 15, Phillips tallied 11 and Tate McLean '23 had a career-high 10. McLean and Max DeGeorge '25 each had career-bests for steals with three, a total matched by Mazlish.

Mazlish also had four assists and Jordon Ryan '23 grabbed 10 rebounds, a career-high.

Grinnell takes to the road for its next three games, starting with a 7:30 p.m. test at Beloit College next Tuesday.