The Knox College men's basketball team opened its Florida trip Friday, losing to Williams College (Mass.), 96-54, at the Daytona Beach Shootout.

The Prairie Fire (5-5 overall, 1-2 Midwest Conference) trailed early as the Ephs (7-2) jumped to a 15-3 lead six minutes in. With strong shooting, Williams maintained control to secure the win.

Knox's Denim Tuala-Fata scored to tie it at 2-2, but Williams responded with a 13-1 run to take control.

Williams shot 58.6 percent (17-29) from the field and 42.9 percent (6-14) from three in the first half. Knox managed 32 percent (8-25) overall and 16.7 percent (2-12) from beyond the arc.

In the second half, Williams extended the lead to 42.

Fourteen Prairie Fire players scored, with 16 seeing action.  B.J. Cooley and Noah Campbell led Knox with seven points each. Cooley's seven points were a season high. Russell Wright, Braedy Phelan, and Vladimir Maranov each scored six.

Knox finished at 33 percent (16-48) from the field and 15 percent (3-20) from three. Several players had three rebounds each, and Ayden Ayer led with four assists.

Knox plays SUNY Maritime (4-5) in Florida Sunday at 9 a.m. (FloSports, subscription). After over a week off, the Prairie Fire host Millikin on New Year's Eve at 3 p.m. For more on Knox men's basketball and Prairie Fire athletics, visit https://prairiefire.knox.edu/.