STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — In its first contest of 2013 the Franciscan University men's basketball team lost to the Muskingum University Muskies by a final score of 73-62. 

The Barons scored first when freshman Christian Duke hit a jump shot at the elbow. Despite holding the Muskies scoreless for almost three minutes to start the game, the men were unable to maintain the lead. Muskingum used a 56% field goal percentage in the first half to get off to a 12-point lead in the first half, a lead the Muskies would not squander.   

"The most challenging aspect of this game was just that this is the first time this group has gotten to play in a live game scenario," head coach John Lamanna said, noting the changes in the roster that occurred over break when the team lost its top scorer and third-ranked scorer in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference, Tim Schenk, for the rest of the season and gained a few new players.

Justin Horstman, who is fourth in the conference in scoring and second on the team, was also out of the lineup. 

"It puts us as kind of a new team because we've had such an influence in our roster at this point in the season, it's like we're starting a new group midway through. So we're going to have our ups and downs through this learning curve," Lamanna said. 

Despite the change, freshman newcomer forward Donovan Zengierski stepped up in the big man role to when Joseph Rine was sent to the bench early in the second half for foul trouble.

"That was a huge plus, because leading up to this point, when Joe was out, we've had issues, and so that's another positive thing. Even though we've had a change in roster, our depth has gotten a little better," Lamanna said. "Donovan was a very nice addition. He had seven points and four boards. For his first game, that was very positive production and he'll just continue to get better."

Another significant contributor was freshman guard Daniel Kleinschnitz, who with 18 points was the Barons' top scorer on the night.

"We're happy to have Daniel back and a part of our program," Lamanna said.

He also noted the 15 points and 16 rebounds of Rine, who has recorded a double-double in four out of his last five games, adding that his post play has seen great improvement and now functions as an important part of the Barons' play.

"Christian Duke had good production too," Lamanna said of Duke's flawless field goal and three-point shooting percentage, as he went 4-4 from the field and made his only three-point attempt for nine points on the night.

"Overall, we had some glimpses where we did things really well," Lamanna said. "With the addition of some new guys and so forth, we're just making early season mistakes at this point in the year."

As the team prepares for its first Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference game of the second half of the season, Lamanna said that it will focus on execution on both ends of the court, taking care of the ball, and cohesiveness.

The Barons next look to take on Penn State-Behrend this Saturday, January 5^th, at 3 p.m.