DECATUR, ILL. -- The Blackburn College Men's Basketball season got underway Wednesday night as the Beavers visited Millikin University in nonconference action. 

Unfortunately, the hosts took victory as they defeated BC 73-56. 

The Beavers were led by sophomore Darius Duff with 16 points on 6-10 shootin, and seven rebounds. Senior Izayah Talmadge added eight points and eight rebounds, including four offensive rebounds. Cayden Paquette also had eight points. 

Millikin started the game with a 9-2 run with Talmadge scoring for the Beavers. Blackburn battled back to make it 21-20 when Paquette found freshman Ayden Kanallakan for a three-pointer at the 7:32 mark, and a minute later, BC captured a 23-21 when Kallaken found freshman Logan Willis for another three-pointer. However, the hosts responded with a 16-1 run to close out the half, taking a 36-25 lead into halftime. 

The hosts opened the second half with a basket, which Duff answered with an old fashioned three-pointer to make it 38-28 just 37 seconds into the half. The teams continued to trade baskets, but BC would be unable to pull any closer as  Millikin, who boasts one of the oldest and most experienced teams in the country, was able to use that experience to hold on the rest of the way to eventually capture a 73-56 victory. 

Blackburn falls to 0-1 while Millikin moves to 1-0. The Beavers return to action Saturday with a road trip to take on Dubuque University.