ELMHURST, IL - The Benedictine University men's basketball team opened the season with a loss at Elmhurst College despite rallying from down double figures.

FINAL SCORE
Elmhurst 83, Benedictine 76

THE DETAILS
• Benedictine built a seven-point lead early in the first half, using five straight points on a jumper from Troy Burrows and a three from Eric Grygo to open a 16-9 edge
• Elmhurst responded by holding Benedictine scoreless for nearly eight minutes, using a 20-0 run to grab a 29-16 edge at the 7:40 mark of the half
• Consecutive baskets from Bryan Jakobsze and Jaquan Phipps trimmed the deficit to nine before a 7-0 spurt pushed the lead to 36-20, largest of the day
• Kyle Graebner splashed home a three-pointer in the final minute of the half to bring Benedictine within 40-33, but Elmhurst led by nine at the break
• Opening the second half with an 11-4 run, Kenny Bogus pulled Benedictine within 46-44 just over three minutes into the second
• Benedictine was down by three points with 15:07 to go, but Elmhurst again moved the lead to double digits at 63-51 with 10:29 left in the game
• A pair of baskets from Grygo around two free throws from Phipps pulled Benedictine within 63-57 at the 8:21 marker before the hosts again stretched the lead to double figures
• Behind an 8-0 run forcing five turnovers, Benedictine whittled the deficit to 75-70 with under two minutes left but could not get the margin under five the rest of the way

STAT LEADERS
• Benedictine shot 40.8 percent from the floor in the loss and was outrebounded 53-29
• Benedictine scored 36 points in the paint and 21 points off 16 turnovers while only turning the ball over seven times
• Three players scored in double figures led by a double-double from Grygo, who notched 17 points and 10 boards
• Phipps notched 15 points while Burrows added 12

UP NEXT
Benedictine (0-1) welcomes North Central College on Tuesday night in the home opener