LISLE, IL - Renewing a local rivalry, the Benedictine University men's basketball team dropped a competitive back-and-forth game with North Central at home.

FINAL SCORE
North Central 65, Benedictine 62

THE DETAILS
• North Central used a 9-0 run to open a double-digit lead at 19-6 with 9:16 left in the first half
• Jeff Kratz knocked down a three-pointer with 6:05 remaining to bring Benedictine within nine and hit another to make the score 21-15 moments later
• Benedictine pulled within four at the half on a layup from Michael Johnson to make the score 27-23
• Six straight points early in the second half on baskets from three different individuals, Johnson, Marvin Agwomoh and Trevor Montiel brought Benedictine within 30-29
• North Central continued to lead Benedictine by an arms length before Kratz put Benedictine ahead at 54-52 with a three with 6:16 left
• The back-and-forth continued with Benedictine leading 60-58 with 3:19 left and had an opportunity to make it a two-possession lead but could not and North Central went up by three
• Benedictine missed a pair of shots in the final moments as North Central held on in a game that saw seven ties and three lead changes

STAT LEADERS
• Benedictine shot just 23 percent in the first half but finished the game at 30.1 percent and finished just 12-of-22 from the free throw line
• Benedictine held a 52-39 advantage on the glass including 25 offensive rebounds but managed just 10 second chance points
• Kratz paced Benedictine with 16 points while Agwomoh tallied 15 points and nine rebounds

UP NEXT
Benedictine (1-4) hosts Dominican on Wednesday