LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University men's basketball team held off Marian, scoring an 80-70 decision on Saturday afternoon.

Benedictine led the entire contest, scoring the first four points of the game on baskets from Adam Reynolds and Tim McGinty. Marian tallied four straight to even the game with 18:01 to go in the opening half. The Eagles slowly built the lead, using a burst of seven consecutive points to move ahead 20-11.


Marian pulled within three points, but another surge stretched the advantage to 14 points. Michael Blaszczyk knocked down a three-pointer to open a 10-0 run. Two free throws from Kevin Rollins made the score 41-27 with just 2:46 left in the first. Rollins ended the half with a three just before the buzzer, putting Benedictine ahead 50-34. The Eagles shot 60.7 percent from the field in the opening half.

Tim Reamer converted on a layup with 15:28 remaining in the game to hand Benedictine a 17-point lead at 56-39, largest of the game. Marian quickly pulled within nine points before Benedictine rattled off five in a row to lead by 14 at 68-54 with just under six minutes to play. Marian would not go away, pulling within four points on two occasions in the final two minutes. Free throws were able to seal the game.

Blaszczyk and John Dodson tallied 15 points each to lead Benedictine. Kevin Rollins recorded 13 points, a career high, following a move to the starting lineup. Tahron Harvey kicked in 10 off the bench. Benedictine held a 30-20 lead on the glass.

Benedictine (7-5, 5-2) travels to Wisconsin Lutheran on Wednesday night.