LISLE, Ill. – The Edgewood College men's basketball team had few answers to slow down the high-powered Benedictine University offense on Saturday. Benedictine went 13-for-21 from the three-point line to pull away for a 101-78 victory, despite a 25-point effort from Edgewood College's Travis Kell.
After Benedictine University (12-7, 11-3 NACC) bolted out to a 9-2 lead, the Eagles seemed to find a better rhythm on offense. Back-to-back field goals by Ben Seefeld and a three-point play for Kell kept the Eagles in the game. Benedictine led 20-15 when Tyler Lemke scored off a pass from Sy Staver, and Arik Anderson tied the game 20-20 with a three-pointer on the next possession.
However, Benedictine scored the next 10 points of the game and Edgewood College (7-12, 7-7 NACC) would be fighting from behind the rest of the day. Benedictine built a 20-point lead shortly after halftime. Anderson would hit another triple, and Jake Negus scored on a drive to get the Eagles within 68-55 with 13 minutes remaining, but that would be as close as Edgewood College would get.
Kell went 10-for-18 from the field and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds to lead the Eagles. Lemke scored 15 points in his second start of the season, including a pair of three-pointers. Negus scored 14 points and went 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Staver paced the Eagles with five assists. Edgewood College shot 44.8 percent from the field, but couldn't keep pace with Benedictine's shooting clip.
Edgewood College had no answer to Benedictine's Brayden Olson. Olson scored 22 points in the first half on his way to 31 points on 11-for-18 shooting and five three-pointers. He also had a game-high nine assists. Jens Soderholm came off the bench to shoot 9-for-11 with four three-pointers for 23 points. Eric Grygo chipped in 13, as Benedictine shot 58.1 percent from the field, including 13-for-21 at the three-point line.
Edgewood College will be back in action next Wednesday night in Milwaukee with a game against MSOE in the Kern Center. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m.
