GREENCASTLE, Ind. – Albion rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to take a pair of one-point leads midway through the second half, but the Britons found it difficult to score for a four-minute stretch in a 76-70 loss to Franklin (Ind.) College on the opening night of the Mike Rokicki Community Versus Cancer Challenge.

Albion will square off against Purdue University North Central at 2 p.m. Sunday in the event's consolation game.

Helped by 14 Briton turnovers, Franklin held a 39-32 lead at halftime. Zach Hurth scored six points and Justin Beal produced a couple of baskets in the paint to spark a 13-2 run as Albion surged to a 55-54 lead.

The teams traded the lead four times until Franklin reeled off a 10-point run to build a 66-57 advantage. Trae Washington ignited the Grizzlies' rally with a 3-point basket and Troy Porter added a pair of free throws and a 3-point goal.

Franklin led by as many as 12 before Albion made one more run to cut the deficit to 72-68 on Mike Smith's layup with 2:53 to play. The Britons had a couple of possessions to draw even closer, but a missed layup and a turnover stalled the rally.

Alex Harville, Jordan Herron and Smith all scored 12 points for Albion (1-2). Hurth and Eric Evans finished with nine points apiece.

Franklin's Troy Porter and Gunner Erwin led all players with 17 points apiece.