FAYETTE, Mo. – The Raven Men's Basketball team picked up their sixth straight win on Tuesday night after Mother Nature delayed their game with No. 11 Central Methodist University by 24 hours.
Benedictine (7-2, 4-0 Heart) held off a late push by CMU (7-2, 2-2 Heart) to earn a 72-67 win over the Eagles as the finished with five players in double figures and 15 of more assists for the seventh time this season.
The Ravens held the Eagles to just one 3-pointer in the first half and a total of six over for the game after CMU entered the game averaging nearly nine a game.
A 3-pointer by Eric Krus with 16:29 left in the first half broke the game's third tie and gave Benedictine their first lead. It was a lead they would never get back. Krus and Colby Nickels gave the Ravens their largest lead of the first half at eight points four times. Krus first on a free throw and again on another 3-pointer with just under six minutes left in the half while Nickels used a 3-pointer first and a shot in the paint with 41 seconds left in the first half.
Benedictine took a six point lead into halftime, 35-29, after hitting 54.2 percent from the floor.
A pair of second half 3-pointers from Wills Wallrap and Thomas O'Connor pushed Benedictine ahead by their largest margin of the game at 12 points before CMU was able to shut down Benedictine on offense to pull even with the Ravens at 49-49 midway through the second half.
Benedictine connected on 15 second-half free throws while shooting 42.9 percent from the floor. Six of their 15 free throws came in the final two minutes of the game to help hold off the Eagles. Meanwhile, after CMU didn't attempt a free throw in the first half, they only converted 3 of 13 in the second half which allowed the Ravens to keep them at arm's length.
Krus and O'Connor led the Ravens with 12 points each combining for half of the Ravens 10 3-pointers. Adam Kutney and Nickels finished with 11 each while Chris Jackson gave the Ravens 10 points off the bench. Jaiden Bristol finished with a team-high five assists while Kutney added four.
Benedictine returns home to host Grand View University at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday before hosting Clarke University at 2 p.m. Saturday in the annual Snowstorm Game. Saturday's game is also the Toys for Tots game and anyone who brings a new unopened toy to the game will be admitted free.
