LISLE, Ill. – The Edgewood College men's basketball team got yet another test in conference play, however, the Eagles fell short this time. Trailing most of the game at Benedictine University, Edgewood College fought back many times and got within three points with just over a minute left in regulation. However, Benedictine hit their free throws to take the 75-70 victory.

With the score tied at 15, Benedictine (3-4, 1-2 NAC) jumped ahead by going on a quick 6-0 scoring spurt to take a 21-15 lead with 12:11 left in the first half. Edgewood College (5-4, 3-1 NAC) answered the Eagles' run with a 5-0 burst, capped by a Ben Wisniewski three-point basket to get Edgewood College back within one point.

Leading by five, Benedictine went on another 6-0 scoring run, to grab their largest lead of the game when A.J. Brown made a jump shot to give the Eagles a 38-27 advantage.

Edgewood College had an answer again as they scored eight of the half's final 10 points. Kent Faurote started the run with the final two of his 11 first half points before Travis Schaaf knocked down a three-point basket. After a pair of Cashton Craig free throws, Schaaf struck again, this time as the halftime buzzer sounded. He came up the left wing and banked in a three-point shot to pull the Eagles within three at 40-37 at halftime.

Craig continued the run in the second half when he nailed a jump shot just over 30 seconds into the half to cut the deficit to one. After exchanging baskets, Edgewood College went on a quick 5-0 scoring spurt to take a 45-44 lead. Wisniewski made both hoops on the run, first a triple, then a jump shot.

However, as it turned out, that was the last time Edgewood College would hold the lead as Cameron Snelling answered with an old fashion three-point play to start a Benedictine run. Snelling followed his three-point play with a three-point basket and Nate Green finished the 8-0 Benedictine run with layup and the Eagles led 52-45 with less than 15 minutes left.

Edgewood College began to come back when Derek Nkemnji, Faurote and Tony Cates made consecutive layups to get the Eagles back within one point at 54-53.

After the Eagles got back within a point at 61-60, Benedictine answered by scoring seven straight points to take a commanding eight point lead with 5:02 remaining. However, Edgewood College had one more run left, started by a pair of Wisniewski jump shots and capped by a Craig jump shot and the Eagles were back within two with 1:54 left.

Nevertheless, Benedictine had another answer as Jerrell Tribble drilled a three-point basket on the other end to push the lead back to five. Wisniewski pulled the Eagles back within three with a pair of free throws with 1:05 left, but it was not enough as Benedictine made four of their final six free throw attempts to seal the 75-70 victory.

Both teams shot well from the field, with Edgewood College making 58.7 percent (27-for-46) of their shots and Benedictine going 28-for-51 from the floor for a 54.9 percent. Edgewood College also outshot Benedictine from three-point range, 50.0 percent (7-for-14) to 47.1 percent (8-for-17). However, Benedictine turned the ball over only eight times to Edgewood College's 17 turnovers.

Wisniewski and Craig led Edgewood College with 19 points apiece, Faurote chipped in with 14 points, and Cates grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Green tallied a game-high 20 points to lead three Benedictine scorers in double figures.

Edgewood College will have a week off before the Eagles take on Knox College next Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Eagles will also face the University of Dubuque in Honolulu, that contest will take place on December 20.