KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After posting its first win at the National Tournament since 1967, the No. 11-ranked Raven men's basketball team is set for a second-round match up at 6:15 p.m. Friday against No. 6-ranked Vanguard (Calif.) University.
Benedictine, who now sits at 23-8, needs just one more win to tie the third most wins in program history set by the 1953-'54 St. Benedict's NAIA National Championship team.
Vanguard (28-6) advanced to the second round with a 103-94 win over Life (Ga.) in game five on Wednesday at the 77th annual Buffalo Funds-NAIA Div. I Men's Basketball National Championship.
GAMEDAY LINKS:
The Match Up: No. 6 Vanguard vs. No. 11 Benedictine - 6:15 p.m. (March 21) - Municipal Auditorium - Kansas City, Mo.
Benedictine College Game Day Central Page
Radio: KAIR 93.7 FM or www.network1sports.com/station/kair
Video - courtesy of NAIA: NeuLion PayPerView feed
Livestats - click on the ((w)): Dakstats Livestats
Up Next: Quarterfinals - 4 p.m. Saturday.
ABOUT VANGUARD: The Lions earned their way to Kansas City by winning the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and they are making just their second appearance at the Div. I Tournament. … The Lions went 11-3 in the GSAC. … They lost their only game in their previous appearance in 2006 to Georgetown (Ky.) … They rank fourth in turnover margin (6.5) and fifth in total steals (357). … They also rank eighth in offensive rebounds per game (14.4) and steals per game (10.5). … Preston Wayne leads the NAIA in free throw percentage (90.6) and is fifth in 3-point field goals (105) and seventh in 3-pointers per game (3.3) … Chris Gorman is ninth in total steals with 76.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Vanguard holds the advantage in points per game, leaden the Ravens 81.3 to 72.9. … Benedictine has a higher field goal percentage - 47.1 to 42.5 and 3-point percentage - 40.7 to 35.0. … Vanguard holds a slight lead in rebounds per game, 38.7 to 34.8.
ABOUT BENEDICTINE: Wednesday night's win was the first this season for the Ravens when trailing at the half. They were 0-7 heading into their 75-70 comeback win over Westminster (Utah). … Heading into the second round, Jallen Messersmith is tied for the most blocks in the tournament with 4. He now has 74 total blocks on the year. … As a team, the Ravens rank fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (40.7). … They also rank ninth in field goal percent defense (40.3), total blocks (122), blocks per game (3.9) and scoring defense per game (67.4).
THE X-FACTOR: Vanguard's 103 points in their opening-round game is tied for the second most in the tournament's first round. … Benedictine gave up 65 points in their opening-round game, which through 14 games was tied for the fourth-least amount of points scored. … The Lions average 10.5 steals per game while Benedictine averages 5.2 but what the Ravens lack in perimeter defensive stats, they make up for in the post. Benedictine has 122 blocks to Vanguard's 82. Friday night's match up will come down to who dictates the style of play. Vanguard will look to run and score quickly while Benedictine will try and grind out their offensive possessions to limit Vanguard's offensive touches.
