Box Score GRINNELL, Iowa – The Grinnell College men's basketball team pushed nationally-ranked St. Norbert College to the limit in a key Midwest Conference contest Saturday afternoon in Darby Gymnasium.

But in the end, the preseason league favorite Green Knights eked out a thrilling 121-115 overtime victory before a packed house.

It was the first loss of the season for the Pioneers, who fell to 3-1 in the league and 6-1 overall. The Green Knights, who are 18th in the latest D3hoops.com national rankings, are 2-0 in the MWC and 4-1 overall.

Grinnell led most of regulation, and built its cushion as large as 11 points in the second half before the visitors rallied to make it 99-all and force overtime. St. Norbert outscored Grinnell 22-16 in the extra period.

Grinnell's Jack Taylor '15 led all scorers with 40 points, including an 8-of-16 performance from 3-point land.

Julian Marx '17 added 20 points, Patrick Maher '14 tallied 19 and Aaron Levin '14 had 16. Maher and Levin nearly had double-doubles, as Maher added nine assists and Levin nine boards. Maher also had three steals.

St. Norbert jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but Grinnell roared back with a 21-7 run to go ahead 21-12. All of those points were on 3-pointers, as Maher, Taylor and Levin both had two and Marx one.

Grinnell's next three points were also on a trey, this one by Luke Yeager '14, to put the hosts up 24-16.

St. Norbert then rallied, coming as close as one but never taking the lead, before Grinnell regained some momentum for a 54-48 halftime lead.

It was a three-point game early in the second half before Grinnell went on an 8-0 run for a 71-60 cushion with 15:08 left. Marx began the spurt with a trey, Levin made a layup and Cody Olson '14 delivered on a 3-pointer.

However, St. Norbert didn't give in and rallied. It was back and forth down the stretch, with a free throw by the Green Knights at the 1:47 mark being the last point of regulation.

St. Norbert took the early lead in overtime, but a 3-pointer by Marx gave Grinnell a 104-103 lead at the 4:04 mark. The Pioneers' final lead came with 1:24 left when Marx hit another 3-pointer for a 111-110 edge.

However, St. Norbert responded with a 12-1 run to pull away and secure the victory.

Grinnell steps out of MWC play next Saturday with a game at Simpson College in Indianola. The tip is set for 2 p.m.