LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University men's basketball team could not complete the comeback in falling to nationally ranked North Central 65-64 in the final game before the Christmas holiday.

North Central, ranked 21st in the D3hoops.com Top 25, built an early seven-point lead. The Cardinal led by nine points at 19-10 with 11:55 remaining in the opening half. Benedictine scored six consecutive points to pull within 19-16 past the mid-point of the half. Down 25-19, the Eagles tallied six straight to even the score. Tahron Harvey tied the game with a jumper. North Central responded with seven straight and held a 35-29 lead at the break. North Central hit over 60 percent of shot attempts in the first half.

Tim McGinty scored on a layup with 17:02 left in the contest, bringing Benedictine within 40-36. North Central stretched the advantage to 10 points, leading 50-40 with 14:43 to play. Harvey hit a jumper as part of a 15-4 run which put Benedictine in front. Shawn Soelter drained a three-pointer with 7:47 remaining to cap the run and hand the hosts a 55-54 lead. The contest was nip and tuck the rest of the way. North Central led 63-59 with just 1:30 left.

Kevin Rollins finished a three-point play with 1:10 remaining to bring Benedictine within 63-62. Following a turnover in the final minute, Adam Reynolds knocked down a pair of free throws with 19.1 to play, handing Benedictine a momentary 64-63 lead. North Central countered, hitting the go ahead shot with 8.3 left. John Dodson had a good look on a runner in the lane at the buzzer, but the shot did not fall and North Central hung on.

Benedictine hit only three shots from long distance in the contest on 19 attempts but did hold a 33-29 lead on the glass. The Eagles notched 21 points off turnovers. Harvey and Michael Blaszczyk each finished with 12 points to pace Benedictine.

Benedictine (5-4) is off until after Christmas when the team travels to Puerto Rico for a pair of non-conference games on December 28 and 29.