WHEATON, IL - Tahron Harvey scored a career high 31 points as the sixth-ranked Benedictine University men's basketball team won a 31st consecutive regular season contest, kicking off the year with an 86-76 win at Wheaton College.

FINAL SCORE
Benedictine 86, Wheaton 76

THE DETAILS
• Three different individuals scored in as many possessions as Benedictine roared to an 8-0 advantage
• Benedictine did not trail in the season opening victory
• Wheaton battled back, tying the game twice at the mid-point of the half at 21-21 and again at 23-23
• Michael Blaszczyk dropped in a pair of free throws with 6:43 left in the first to put Benedictine ahead 30-24
• The hosts would tie the game again, and for the final time, at 32-32 with 4:23 to play in the opening half
• Leading by four points, Harvey opened and finished a 10-0 run that stretched the lead to 14 in the closing minute of the half as Benedictine led 47-35 at the break
• Wheaton chipped the deficit down to 59-54 halfway through the second but could pull no closer the rest of the way
• Benedictine scored nine straight in a two-minute spurt to lead 86-71 in the final minute

FROM THE COACH
"This was a great win on the road to open the year against a quality program," head coach Keith Bunkenburg said. "We didn't shoot the ball particularly well or defend, but we'll get better."

STAT LEADERS
• Harvey made 10 field goals as part of his 31 points and added 11 rebounds to go with six assists
• Adam Reynolds picked up 20 points in the post with six boards
• Blaszczyk also reached double figures, notching 10 as Benedictine used nine players, eight of which scored
• Benedictine, the top rebounding team in the nation en route to a national championship appearance last year, held a 40-35 advantage on the glass
• Kenny Bogus reeled in nine boards during his collegiate debut
• Benedictine finished the game shooting 49.2 percent after posting a 51.6 mark in the second half
• The team did not make a three-pointer in the second half, finishing 0-for-9 and 7-of-26 on the night

UP NEXT
Benedictine (1-0) opens the home portion of the season on Saturday night against #4 St. Norbert College. The contest marks the first of three in a row at home against fellow Top 25 programs.