Playing its first game in more than a week, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team was unable to find an offensive rhythm Friday night in an 81-66 defeat at Calvin (Mich.) in a non-conference contest in Grand Rapids, Mich.
 
The Warhawks (2-5 overall), playing their first of a two-game swing in Michigan, were held to 41.0 percent shooting from the floor and finished 0-for-12 from 3-point range.
 
The Knights (3-3) hit 50.9 percent of their shots, including 57.7 percent in the first half, when they jumped out to a 38-31 advantage.
 
Junior forward Equan Ards (Milwaukee, Wis./Hamilton) tallied a team-high 23 points to go along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Bailey Kale (La Crosse, Wis./Central) posted 15 points, three rebounds and three assists, and freshman forward Trevon Chislom (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) totaled 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor and added four rebounds.
 
Sophomore forward Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet) collected nine points and a team-high five rebounds for UW-Whitewater, which finished with a 42-28 advantage on points in the paint.
 
The two teams traded baskets for the first five minutes before Calvin stretched to a 15-9 advantage at the 13:52 mark. The Warhawks embarked on an 8-0 run and led 17-15 at the midway point of the half following a layup by Ards.
 
A 7-0 run capped with 4:31 remaining gave the Knights a 28-21 lead. UW-Whitewater closed to within 32-29 with 1:46 on the clock following a pair of free throws by freshman guard James Burks (Milwaukee, Wis./Riverside University HS), but Calvin closed the half on a 6-2 run for a seven-point halftime lead.
 
Ards opened the second half with three straight points to bring the Warhawks within 38-34 with 18:59 to play, but the Knights brought their lead to double digits just over a minute later.
 
UW-Whitewater got as close as six points at 54-48 with 13:09 left, but Calvin continued to withstand the Warhawks' push, building its advantage to 75-58 at the 7:18 mark.
 
Senior forward Riley Jensen (Milton, Wis./Janesville Craig) cut the UW-W deficit to 75-65 with 3:56 on the clock, but the Knights scored the next six points to put the game out of reach.
 
The Warhawks visit Alma Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Central Time.