For the second night in a row, an opponent with no player over 6-foot-1 used its quickness to beat the Marshall boys' basketball team.

Visiting Mexico went on a 15-5 third-quarter run Tuesday to defeat the Owls in their NCMC opener, 49-34. Senior Alex Gardner scored eight of his game-high 18 points during the decisive stretch for the Bulldogs.

Following 6-6 sophomore Nathan Cato's 26-point performance the previous night at Chillicothe, Mexico (2-2, 1-0 NCMC) was determined not to let the ball get into the paint -- limiting Cato to three field goal attempts.

"They packed it in tight," noted Marshall head coach Richard Berry. "Offensively, we struggled getting the ball inside and settled for outside shots which weren't falling."

Of the Owls' 38 shots from the floor, 14 were three-pointers -- only one of which dropped. Seniors Cody Dusenberry and Josh Glassmaker each had nine points to lead Marshall (1-2, 0-1).

The Owls will be at home Friday to host league foe Fulton.

Fayette 72, Slater 62

SLATER -- Fayette took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter and held on, thanks to eight-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line, to claim a 72-62 Lewis and Clark Conference win Tuesday at Slater.

The Falcons (3-2, 1-0 L&C), who scored 21 points in the first period and 22 in the fourth, got 17 points each from senior Shavez Eubanks and juniors Xavien Crump and Ryan Sherman.

For the Wildcats (1-4, 0-1), senior Aric Falls tallied 21 points and senior Austin Foster had 10 points, but both were gone on fouls by the end of the game. Slater hosts Santa Fe on Thursday.

Bunceton 79, Malta Bend 59

BUNCETON -- Falling behind 21-0 in the first quarter doomed Malta Bend, which played evenly at Bunceton the rest of the night during Tuesday's 79-59 CCAA loss.

Juniors Skyler Williams and Will Irvin each hit three buckets during the early run for the Dragons (3-2, 1-0 CCAA), with junior Mason Cary ringing up 32 points.

Sophomore Tyler Armstrong had a career-high 30 points and junior Ryan Armstrong added 17 for the Tigers (0-2, 0-2), who play Monday at Slater.

Girls

Fayette 63, Slater 44

SLATER -- Fayette went into halftime with a 13-point lead and never let the host Slater girls get back into the contest Tuesday to win the Lewis and Clark Conference opener for both teams, 63-44.

Senior Catherine Kyle scored 22 points and freshman Kendel Asbury added 13 for the Lady Falcons (3-2, 1-0 L&C). The Lady Wildcats were paced by sophomore Niki Kruger with 17 points, while senior Erika Yager had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Slater (1-3, 0-1) entertain Santa Fe in a non-conference clash Thursday.

Bunceton 51, Malta Bend 27

BUNCETON -- Two weeks between games gave Malta Bend a little time to improve in practice, and the result was a more competitive contest than during its season premier.

It wasn't until a 14-3 third-quarter spurt Tuesday that Bunceton was able to pull away from the visiting Lady Tigers for a 51-27 CCAA win. With seniors Kayla Schmidt and Hillary Kahl each scoring 10 points through the first three periods, the Lady Dragons (2-3, 1-0 CCAA) were able to take a 19-point lead into the final frame.

Junior Jerrian Johnson hit four three-pointers for a game-high 14 points to pace Malta Bend (0-2, 0-2), which plays Monday at Slater.