Box Score

LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University men's basketball team was unable to hold off Marian University in an 81-75 defeat on Saturday.

Benedictine led for most of the contest, opening a double figure advantage in the opening 20 minutes. Alex Edmondson buried a three-pointer with 17:29 left in the first half to open an 11-2 run. Edmondson finished the run with another three to hand the Eagles a 16-6 edge with 14:13 remaining in the half.

Marian battled back to even the score with 8:09 to go in the half before a 13-2 run opened with a Jon Bock triple put Benedictine in front 33-22. Marian, leaders of the NACC, again battled to even the scored at the break. Both teams shot over 50 percent in the half.

The second half was fairly even. Benedictine scored five straight on a Kane Steger layup and a Michael Woolf three to go ahead 49-44 with 16:07 to play. Marian chipped away but the lead sat at six points following a Tyler Thurston layup with 7:39 remaining. Marian did not lead until scoring five consecutive points with inside of two minutes left. The visitors hit three free throws to close the contest.

Benedictine held a 33-18 edge on the glass, leading to 13 second chance points. Marian shot over 60 percent in the second half and finished the game at 57.8 percent. Tim McGinty paced Benedictine with 17 points. Michael Blaszczyk notched 13 with Alex Edmondson tallying 11 off the bench.

Benedictine (7-10, 5-7 NACC) travels to Wisconsin Lutheran on January 25.