LAWRENCE – Benedictine Men's Basketball returned to action on Thursday in the first of two games at the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic hosted by Haskell Indian Nations University.

The Ravens took on Southwestern (Kan.) and made a late-push in the second half, only to have the Moundbuilders answer and keep the momentum into the second half to earn a 73-49 win.

Benedictine trailed by as much as 16 points midway through the first half before they closed within one point, 30-29, with 5 minutes remaining in the half. The Ravens used a 14-2 run to erase their double-digit deficit. Deaglan Sullivan kicked of the run with a 3-pointer, and capped off the run with a second 3-pointer with 5:04 left in the first half.

Southwestern closed the half with a run of their own, 11-2, to take a 41-31 lead at the half. 

The Moundbuilders limited the Ravens to just 8 second-half field goals as Benedictine finished the game shooting 37 percent from the floor while connecting on 4 of 26 from beyond the arc.

Sullivan led the Ravens with 24 points while Preston Reynolds added 7 points and a team-high 7 rebounds. 

The Ravens return to Lawrence on Saturday to take on the University of St. Mary at 4 p.m.

www.ravenathletics.com | #UnleashGreatness | www.benedictine.edu