The Benedictine University men's basketball team opened conference play with an 83-75 loss to 15th-ranked Wisconsin Lutheran, the preseason favorite and two-time defending champ.
Wisconsin Lutheran led by six in a choppy first half but Benedictine closed the half on a 6-0 run to lead 40-37 at the break on a
Ryan Sammons jumper.
Brandon McCoy knocked down a triple with 15:25 to play as Benedictine led 49-48 but the nationally ranked visitors responded with 10 straight to lead by nine at 58-49.
Noah Mason converted on a layup to draw Benedictine within 79-75 with just under two minutes left but Wisconsin Lutheran forced consecutive turnovers to post the final.
Wisconsin Lutheran shot 65 percent in the second half to finish at 50.9 for the game. Benedictine shot 55 percent in the second and 44.3 for the contest. Mason scored 17 points off the bench.
Tanner Resch added 16 with McCoy tacking on 15 and Sammons 14.
Benedictine (1-4, 0-1 NACC) heads to North Central on Tuesday night.
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