OLATHE – The latest chapter in the Men's Basketball series with MNU played out like many previous meetings between the Ravens and the Pioneers on Wednesday night inside the Cook Center.
Four ties and six lead changes later, Benedictine (12-4, 9-3 Heart) was able to pull away midway through the second half and keep MNU at arm's length for the rest of the game to earn a 77-68 win.
The win for the Ravens gives them their second sweep over the Pioneers in the last three seasons and a one-game series lead over the last 10 years.
The Ravens went to work quickly from beyond the 3-point arc – scoring on baskets from Matt Austin, Jayden Temme, and Chris Jackson – as they were able to pull ahead early against the Pioneers. Despite the early advantage, by the midpoint of the first half, MNU had erased Benedictine's advantage and pulled ahead. They pushed out to a 5-point lead only to have that erased minutes later by a pair of Temme free throws. The lead continued to change hands until Benedictine scored the final four points off the half to take a 31-29 lead into the break.
Benedictine never gave back their halftime lead. The Ravens opened the second half outscoring the Pioneers 23-11 to pull ahead by 14 points. The Pioneers did respond to pull back within a possession with just over four minutes left in the game but a six-point swing by Jaiden Bristol and Austin quickly pushed Benedictine back ahead by nine points.
Austin's basket with 1:44 remaining in the game that allowed the Ravens to pull back ahead by nine proved to the final field goal of the game for either team. Benedictine connected on five free throws down the stretch while MNU also converted on five free throws.
Temme led the Ravens with a game-high 21 points as three Ravens finished in double figures. Bristol added 18 points and a team-high 7 rebounds while Austin finished with 13. Eric Krus and Chris Jackson combined for 17 points to round out the Ravens top scorers.
The Ravens finished the game hitting 51.9 percent from the floor with 54 of their final 78 points coming in the paint.
Benedictine returns home on Saturday at 4 p.m. to take on Baker University. In their first meeting of the season in Baldwin City on Nov. 18, the Ravens earned a 76-64 win.
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