DUBUQUE, Iowa – The (3) Raven Men's Basketball team wrapped up a two-game road trip into Iowa on Saturday with a win over Clarke University.
Benedictine (20-2, 16-0 Heart) connected on over 47 percent from the floor en route to a 76-63 win over Clarke (9-12, 7-8 Heart). The win gives the Ravens their fifth Heart sweep of the season while running their NAIA-high winning streak to 19.
Benedictine opened the game on a 14-3 run and pushed their advantage to as much as 16 before Clarke battled back. The Pride used a 14-2 run to erase the Ravens double-figure lead and pull within three. Benedictine answered to stop the run but Clarke continued to match the Ravens pulling within one point before Benedictine took a 38-35 lead into halftime.
Clarke scored the first basket of the second half and then Benedictine used a 11-0 run to take control and never look back. The Pride were able to cut the Ravens lead down to single digits inside the final four minutes of play but only briefly as the Ravens moved on to earn the 13-point win.
Three Ravens finished in double figures, led by the game-high 19 of Adam Kutney. Kutney went 7 of 11 from the floor while knocking in 5 of 7 free throws to lead the Ravens in scoring. Eric Krus finished with 14 while Jaiden Bristol added 13 missing his season high by a point. Bristol also added seven assists and matched Krus with a team-high nine rebounds.
Defensively, the Ravens held the Pride to just 25 percent from beyond the arc, which included a 1 of 8 effort in the second half. They also held the Pride to just 31.0 percent from the floor.
The Ravens return home Wednesday to open a three-game homestand. They host Baker University at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday before wrapping up the week against Graceland University at 4 p.m. Saturday.