PELLA, Iowa – Despite a remarkable performance by Julian Marx '17, Grinnell College men's basketball team fell to the Iowa Conference's preseason favorite after a good effort Wednesday night.
 
Unbeaten Central College trailed by a point at halftime before outscoring the visiting Pioneers 74-58 in the second half for a 143-128 win. Central is now 4-0, while the Pioneers dipped to 1-2.
 
The sharp-shooting Marx erupted for 51 points, the 15th-highest total in Grinnell history and the most by a Pioneer since 2014. He now ranks 18th on the Pioneers' all-time scoring chart with 1,149 points.
 
Marx was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line and drained 15-of-24 shots from 3-point land. His 3-point total is fifth-best in program history and the most in a game since 2013.
 
Another Pioneer also had a career scoring night, as Vinny Curta '19 finished with 37 points with the aid of 16 free throws. The free throw total is fifth-best in Grinnell history and the most since 2013.
 
Ky-Sean Johnson '19 was also in double figures for Grinnell with 10 points. Curta and Jacob Ekstrand '18 each had five rebounds, while Curta dished out seven assists. Mike Porter '17 added four steals.
 
Grinnell got its biggest lead early in the contest. Up by three points, Curta hit two free throws and Marx a 3-pointer for a 26-18 edge. After a Central basket, Marx made another trey for a 29-20 lead with 14:10 to go in the first half.
 
The Pioneers later got another nine-point lead at 31-22 on Curta's layup, but the Dutch came back and were within one at halftime.
 
The early part of the second half remained tight, with the Pioneers taking their final lead at 81-80 on Ekstrand's 3-pointer with 17:16 remaining.
 
Central then went on a nine-point run for an eight-point lead. However, Marx and Sean Cullinane '18 got Grinnell back into the game with consecutive 3-pointers, making it 89-87.
 
But Central followed with a key 11-point run for a 100-87 lead with 10:20 left. Grinnell could get no closer than nine the rest of the way.
 
Grinnell has a big test Saturday when Greenville College visits Darby Gymnasium. The 3 p.m. contest features the nation's two top-scoring teams.