NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Benedictine University's men's basketball team notched a win in its first Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) game of the year, topping Milwaukee School of Engineering, 72-67, in a game played at North Central College's Gregory Arena. The Eagles improved to 3-2 overall thanks to the victory in what was the NAC opener for both teams.

 

Benedictine appeared to be on its way to a blow-out win in the first half. BU moved out to a 19-point lead with 2:55 minutes left in the half when Terry Licht buried a three-point basket on his way to a team-leading 15 points. Licht's basket gave the Eagles a 36-17 lead.

 

Licht – who entered the game shooting a NAC-leading 81.9 percent (24-29) from the field – actually raised his shooting percentage in the game. Licht hit 6-of-7 from the field, upping his season field goal percentage to 82.8 percent.

 

But the Raiders (3-3, 0-1 NAC) were not about to go quietly. When the game's leading scorer – Austin Meier (18 points, 7 rebounds) – hit a short jumper with a minute left, MSOE had cut the deficit to 10 points (36-26) at the intermission.

 

MSOE continued its run to open the second stanza. The Raiders scored the first 11 points to open the second half, taking its first lead of the game – 37-36 with 18:07 left – on a three-pointer by Bennett Deacon (11 points). Deacon's bucket completed a 20-0 run by MSOE before Benedictine finally broke its drought.

 

The two teams had eight ties or lead changes over the next 4 ½ minutes before Benedictine took the lead for good – 43-42 – when sophomore Bradley Bruno (6 points) connected on a pair of free throws. Bruno's points sparked a 12-0 run by the Eagles. After Nate Green (8 points, 4 assists) hit a free throw, BU climbed on top, 53-42, with 10:37 remaining.

 

A trey by Deacon brought the Raiders to within three points – 61-58 – with 2:56 left to play. But the Eagles were able to make good on nine-of-12 free throws down the stretch, sandwiched around a layup by Cameron Snelling (8 points, 6 rebounds), as the team wrapped up the 72-67 win.

 

Benedictine's Dan Klecan was also in double-digit scoring for Benedictine with 14 points. Junior Jerrell Tribble also had eight points and two steals.

 

Jeremy Off had a double-double for MSOE, tallying 10 points and pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds. Off also had four assists and a blocked shot for the Raiders in the loss.