LISLE, Ill. – The Edgewood College Eagles men's basketball squad entered the second-to-last week of the regular season looking to get back on the right track. They faced off with the Benedictine Eagles in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) battle. Benedictine (14-8, 11-4 NACC) kept Edgewood College (8-15, 7-9) at arm's length, coming out ahead 74-65 in the battle of the Eagles.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Benedictine built up a 13-8 edge in the first five minutes of play. Edgewood College would keep pace, closing within a possession on multiple occasions, but Benedictine always seemed to have an answer. A 7-2 rally late in the half would push the Benedictine lead up to 33-24 with 3:39 left in the frame and they would head to the locker room up 35-26.
 
- Benedictine maintained their first half lead off the back of an 8-to-0 edge in second chance points.
 
- The hosts would hold as much as a 12-point edge in the second half, but Edgewood College would come alive in the final minutes. Down 58-48, an 11-4 burst helped along by some steals cut Benedictine's advantage down to just a possession for the first time since the first half. Clutch shooting from the hosts would dash Edgewood College's hopes as they fell in the battle of the birds.
 
- Benedictine outshot Edgewood College 45 (27-of-60) percent to 39.7 (23-of-58) percent from the floor. They also won the rebounding battle 40-34.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
- Drew Houtakker paved the way for Edgewood College, earning a stat line of 15 points, 13 rebounds, and four steals
 
- Luke Cervelli shot 5-of-8 from the floor. He finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
 
- Cade Ellingson played a key part in Edgewood College's comeback, scoring 10 points and nabbing five steals.
 
THE OPPOSITION
- Four from Benedictine finished in double digits. Trevor Montiel led the pack with 16 points and nine rebounds.
 
- Tanner Resch tallied 16 points coming off the bench for the hosts.
 
- Drew Stokes and Nick Howard recorded 15 points each, Stokes finishing with 6-of-10 shooting from the floor.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Houtakker's four steals matched his career best.
 
- Ellingson's five steals were a career high.
 
- Benedictine has won three in a row in the battle of the birds and owns a 17-16 lead in the all-time series.
 
UP NEXT
Edgewood College heads home to the Todd Wehr Edgedome Saturday afternoon. They will host the St. Norbert Green Knights for a Senior Day battle. First tip is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.