Benedictine returns home for a two-game homestand tonight at 7:30 p.m. as they host Graceland University. Admission is free with the donation of an unopened toy in support of the Benedictine Basketball Christmas Joy Toy Drive.
ABOUT BENEDICTINE: Benedictine welcomes Graceland to campus for the 61st edition of the Heart series with the Yellowjackets. The Ravens are riding a 7-game winning streak against the Yellowjackets headed into play tonight having won their lone game with the Yellowjackets last season. They have won 8 of their last 10 and 18 out of 22 under head coach Ryan Moody. ... Under Coach Moody, the Ravens have posted a 9-1 mark in 10 home games, scoring an average of 73.3 per game. Benedictine is undefeated when the Ravens have scored more than 60 points – the lone loss was a 62-60 loss in the Heart Tournament on March 2, 2017. ... In their three Heart games this season, the Ravens have upped their points per game average almost 2 points to 68.4 from their season average of 66.6. Benedictine has scored 66 or more points in 5 of their 9 games posting a 3-2 record in those 5 games. ... Benedictine's Braden Belt ranks third in the Heart in 3-pointers. Through 9 games he is 53 of 123, shooting 38.6 from beyond the arc. He currently is averaging 3 3-pointers per game, which is tied for third in the Heart with William Penn's Daniel Autrey. ... Benedictine's opponents have scored 127 points off 152 turnovers committed by the Ravens this season. That averages out to 14.1 points per game. In 9 games this season, the Ravens have not won the turnover battle with their opponents. They are currently averaging 16.9 turnovers per game while their opponents are averaging 11.8. ... Inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium, the Ravens have outrebounded their opponents by a total of 40 rebounds. They have won the rebounding battle in four of the five games, with their match-up with Southwestern being the lone game where they lost the rebounding battle by 5.
ABOUT GRACELAND: Graceland is ranked fourth in the Heart in free throws. Through 9 games, they are converting 76.6 percent as a team knocking in 128 of 167. That percentage also ranks them fourth in the NAIA. ... CJ Wilson ranks second individually in free throw percentage at 91.5 percent, hitting 43 free throws. Winslow Martin is fifth individually in free throws at 87.0 percent, hitting 20 free throws. ... Graceland ranks fifth in the NAIA in made free throws. In 9 games, they have averaged 14.2 made free throws. The Yellowjackets have the fourth-ranked scoring defense in the Heart so far this season. In 9 games, they have allowed their opponents to score 73.3 points per game.
UP NEXT: Benedictine host Culver-Stockton College at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free again with the donation of an unopened toy for the Christmas Joy Toy Drive. Santa Clause will be visiting campus from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with cookies and drinks available as well.
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