DUBUQUE, Iowa – No. 24 Clarke University outscored the Raven Men's Basketball team 15-9 in double overtime to hold off (RV) Benedictine for an 80-74 win.
For the second time this season, Benedictine (15-11, 13-7 Heart) and Clarke were locked up at 31 at the half and at 58 after regulation to send the game into overtime. Each team added seven points in the first overtime period to send the game into a second overtime tied at 65 before the Pride were able to earn the six-point win.
In the first meeting between the two schools back in December, Clarke needed a last-second shot to beat Benedictine. Saturday's win was just as back and forth with 12 ties and 19 lead changes.
The lead changed hands four times in the first four minutes of play before Clarke was able to pull ahead by as much as eight points near the midpoint of the first half. Benedictine didn't let Clarke get too far in front as they closed down their deficit with a 13-5 run capped off by a 3-pointer from Jaiden Bristol to tie the game at 24 with just over four minutes left in the half. The Ravens were never able to grab the lead as Bristol used a putback to send the game into halftime tied.
Bristol gave the Ravens the lead 10 seconds in the second half and after the games fifth tie, the Ravens were able to build a five-point lead on a basket from Colby Nickles. A 3-pointer from Jayden Temme pushed the Ravens to their largest lead of the half at eight points, 57-49, but much like the rest of the game the Ravens run was answered by one for the Pride that closed out regulation and send the game into overtime tied at 58.
Free throws played a role in sending the game into the second overtime period. Clarke made a pair of free throws to take a one-point lead over Benedictine before Bristol connected on a free throw to tie the game at 65 and send the game into the second overtime. Clarke scored nine of their 15 double-overtime points from the free throw line as they were able to pull ahead of Benedictine and earn the six-point win.
Four Ravens finished in double figures with Bristol leading the way with a game-high 23 points. Temme was next with 14 points while Matt Austin and Eric Krus scored 10 points each.
The Ravens return home for a 7:30 p.m. game on Wednesday against Peru State College. Benedictine is currently tied for third place with Peru State with four games remaining in the regular season.
