BOX SCORE

ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Benedictine University men's basketball team tied the game at 23-all halfway through the first half and were down by just four points at halftime, but the effort fell short as the Eagles dropped a 97-81 decision to Division II opponent, Lewis University, on Tuesday night in Neil Carey Arena.

After a steal from AJ Brown, Cameron Snelling put the Eagles up 3-0 to begin the game. With the momentum in their corner, the Eagles maintained a two-point lead five minutes through the first half. The score would bounce back and forth the rest of the half and with two minutes remaining a three-pointer from Dario Jokic tied the game at 37-all. After two free-throw shots and three-pointer from Chris McClellan, Lewis headed into the locker room at halftime up 44-40.

Benedictine shot 53.1 percent in the first half (17-for-32) and 31.3 percent from behind the arc (5-for-16) while Lewis was 14-23 from the field (60.9 percent) and 3-for-8 from the three-point line (37.5 percent).

The Flyers took a 10-point lead five minutes into the second half with a three-pointer from David Luster.


Benedictine got into foul trouble as Lewis continued to extend their lead. Tribble cut the Lewis lead down to eight with 10 minutes remaining but the Flyer offense was too much as the Eagles fell to Lewis, 97-81.

Five Eagles scored in double figures including Nate Green who had a team high 16 points and dished out seven assists. Snelling and Licht each had 13 points while Licht led all players with eight rebounds. Brian Genslinger and Tribble each had 11 points.

Lewis's Dennis Thomas led all players with 26 points.

As a team, Benedictine shot 52.5 percent from the field (31-for-59) and 50 percent from behind the arc (9-for-18) while Lewis was 62.6 percent (35-for-56) and 50.0 percent from three-point land (9-for-18). The Eagles had 16 turnovers compared to the Flyers 17 and each team had six steals.

Benedictine is back in action on Tuesday, November 30 when they travel to MSOE for a 7:00 p.m. tipoff.