WOOSTER, Ohio – The no. 19 nationally ranked Mount Union men's basketball team lost a non-conference matchup 79-73 against Wooster at the Wooster Rotary Classic on Saturday evening.

The Purple Raiders (3-2) had five players score in double figures with fifth-year Christian Parker (Canton / GlenOak) leading the way with a team-high 20 points and senior Jamarr Talbert Jr. (Richmond Heights) added in 17. Senior Marcus Steele (Solon) scored 12 points while junior Corey Hudson (Columbus / Pickerington) and sophomore Elijah Farrington (Massillon / Massillon Washington) scored 10 points apiece to round out the Raiders in double digits.

The Fighting Scots (4-0) were led by Jamir Billings who scored a game-high 22 points, Nick Everett added in 19 and Ashton Price scored 10 points.

Neither team would be able to gain an edge over the first six minutes of game time before a three from Billings sparked a 15-2 Wooster run over the next 7:16 of action to give the Scots a 12-point lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the first half. Both teams would trade baskets over the final 6:51 of the first half as Wooster would take a 37-27 lead into the halftime break.

The Raiders and Scots would open the second half trading baskets before back-to-back baskets by Parker would start chipping away at the Wooster lead with just under 15 minutes remaining in the game. Mount Union would continue slowly chipping away at the lead over the next several minutes, a Talbert three with 11:42 left to play would cut the lead to 53-50. Wooster would maintain a slim lead over the remainder of the game, the Raiders got it down to one multiple times in the final five minutes but were never able to reclaim the lead as the Scots would go on to win 79-73.

Parker was named to the All-Tournament team for his performance over the weekend.

The Raiders stay on the road next when they open up Ohio Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, December 4 in University Heights against John Carroll at 7 p.m.