While many other factors played into Polo’s 59-51 loss to Dakota Wednesday night in Polo, Marcos coach Matt Messer probably won’t want to look at the free-throw numbers this morning.

Dakota (4-1, 3-1 NUIC East) shot 8-for-9 from the charity stripe, while Polo (5-1, 1-1) shot just 6-for-17. The Indians jumped out to a 36-26 halftime lead behind Brett Benning scoring 16 of his game-high 20 points in the first 16 minutes.

AJ Dollmeyer and Brady Bushman led Polo with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Bushman hit three 3-pointers. The Marcos got within seven by outscoring the Indians 13-10 in the third period.