LISLE, Ill. – In a solid performance in the Dan and Ada Rice Center, the Benedictine University men's basketball team defeated the Eagles of Edgewood College to capture the 2011 Northern Athletics Conference title and move on the NCAA Division III Tournament. In front of a packed gymnasium, all sporting red in support of their home court Eagles, BenU led for 35 minutes of the 40 minute game.
After falling behind quickly, 0-4, senior
Jerrell Tribble hit back-to-back shots to tie the game up at four apiece. After a three-point basket by
Brian Genslinger with 13:15 remaining in the first half, BenU would never lose the lead. They posted their largest lead of 15 with 1:17 left in the half. They would go into halftime up by 11.
Our Eagles consistently pounded the ball inside and consequently ended up with 48 points in the paint. They shot an incredible 52.6 percent from the field compared to Edgewood's 43.4 percent. Point guard
Nate Green led BenU with 23 points (10-17) and five assists.
Senior
Cameron Snelling posted yet another double-double as he tallied 14 points (6-10) and 13 rebounds. He also grabbed four steals and passed out three assists. Tribble scored ten points (5-11) and grabbed four boards. Senior
Terry Licht finished with nine points (3-5) and eight rebounds.
BenU took care of the ball, gathering only nine turnovers on the game. They out-rebounded the opposing Eagles 32-27. In fact, BenU beat Edgewood in every category besides free-throw percentage, in which Edgewood bested them, 75 to 70 percent.
Ben Wisniewski paced EC with 15 points (6-17) and seven rebounds. Cashton Craig finished with 13 points (6-13) and Jeff Barczak added 12 (2-2 and 8-8 from the line).
The Eagles find out their NCAA Tournament fate on Monday afternoon where all Benedictine fans are invited to the Coal Ben for the NCAA selection show at 12:00 p.m.
