OBERLIN, Ohio - Three Yeomen finishing in double-figures but it wasn't enough to seal a victory on Friday night as the Kalamazoo College Hornets triumphed over Oberlin College men's basketball, 74-70.

Oberlin's offensive charge was led by seniors Nathan Cohen and Jack Poyle, along with sophomore Eric Holt. Cohen guided the trio of Yeomen with a season-high 23 points (8-of-12; 66.6%) in the loss to accompany three rebounds and three steals, also season-highs. Cohen had ten at the intermission and led all-bench players with his 23 points.

Poyle rattled off 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting (40%) to go along with three boards, three assists, three steals and one block. Holt tied a season-high that he set in the season opener at Wooster with 14 points on a 6-of-10 shooting performance. Holt also tallied four rebounds and two rejections against the Hornets.

The Yeomen had a slow start, which proved to be the ultimate difference maker. The Hornets captured an 11-point lead at 12-1 just 4:03 into the bout. The Crimson and Gold did everything they could to mount a comeback, but every effort seemed to fall short.

The Hornets nearly turned in a wire-to-wire victory if it not had been for a free throw from Eli Silverman-Lloyd to open proceedings inside of Philips Gymnasium.

Through the first ten minutes of the opening frame, the Yeomen would cut the Hornet lead back to one when Scott Miller knocked down a three-ball, his only successful long ball of the night, but K'Zoo had an answer. In the next 4:12 Kalamazoo would climb back on top by double-figures, 25-14, with 5:41 remaining in the first half.

The Yeomen would cut it back down to five before the break as the Hornet carried a 35-30 advantage into the locker room with a last second layup.

In the second 20-minute stanza, The Hornets maintained a steady single-digit advantage over their hosts until opening the game back up with a layup from Tommy Cerven to make it 62-49 Kalamazoo with 6:31 left in regulation.

Head coach Isaiah Cavaco's side fought hard in the following minutes, trimming the Hornet lead back to four with under 20-seconds remaining. Despite a strong offensive burst and key steals in the backcourt in the closing minute of play, the Hornets escaped with the win moving the Yeomen to 1-2 overall on the year.

It was a rough night beyond the arch for the Yeomen, despite having good looks throughout the battle. The Crimson and Gold went 8-of-38 (21.1%) from three-range and 24-of-62 (38.7%) from the field. The Hornets closed the night hitting on 28-of-54 (51.8%) from the field and knocking down 8-of-16 (50%) threes. The Hornets were buzzing around the basket and out-rebounded the Yeomen 44-to-25, while the Yeomen won the possession battle finishing with ten give-aways to the Hornets 20.

Oberlin collected 23 points off of Kalamazoo turnovers, but it wasn't enough to make a difference on Friday night.

The Yeomen will take Saturday off as Kalamazoo battles Illinois Institute of Technology tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. for the second installment of the 2016 Thanksgiving Classic.

Oberlin men's basketball will return to the hardwood on Sunday to play host to Illinois Tech for the final bout of the Thanksgiving Classic. Tip off on Sunday is slated for 2 p.m.