Box Score

LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University men's basketball team rallied from a 17-point second half deficit but could not complete the comeback in a 59-56 defeat to MSOE on Saturday night.

The game was tied just once, nearly three minutes into the contest when Jahron Harvey dropped home a layup to even the score at 2-2. MSOE led the remainder of the game. Using a 7-0 run just before the midway point of the half, MSOE went ahead by eight points at 15-7. The visitors led 28-20 at the intermission.

MSOE built a 17-point lead in the second half at 44-27 with 13:07 to play. Benedictine slowly chipped away, battling within single digits at 46-37 on a Tyler Thurston layup with 8:41 to play. The slow rally continued as four consecutive free throws from Michael Blaszczyk brought the Eagles within two points at 52-50 with 2:19 to play. Benedictine still trailed by a pair with just under two minutes remaining and had an opportunity to tie the game with less than a minute on a Harvey three attempt, but MSOE held on for the road win.

Benedictine shot just 34.6 percent from the field. The Eagles connected on just two threes in the entire game, including a 1-for-12 effort in the first half. The top rebounding team in the conference did hold a slim 34-33 lead on the glass. Harvey led all scorers with 16 points and added 10 rebounds. Blaszczyk just missed a double-double, notching 13 to go with eight boards.

Benedictine (4-7, 2-4) will return to action in the New Year on January 4 at Marian.