FOND du LAC, Wis. - The seventh-ranked Benedictine University men's basketball team improved to 9-0 on the season with an 83-61 road win over Marian University on Saturday afternoon.

FINAL SCORE
Benedictine 83, Marian 61

THE DETAILS
• After a close first five minutes of play, Michael Blaszczyk handed Benedictine the lead for good with a layup at the 14:17 mark, making the score 14-13
• Blaszczyk pushed the lead to double figures at 33-23 with just over five minutes to play in the opening half
• Benedictine closed the first half with a flurry, using a 10-2 run to open a 43-29 lead at the break
• Blaszczyk drained a pair of three-pointers as part of the run
• A run of seven consecutive points early in the second half pushed the lead to 21 points at 54-33 when Blaszczyk converted on a layup
• Marian pulled no closer than 19 points for the remainder of the game as a 10-0 run extended the lead to 68-39 with 9:11 remaining
• Shawn Soelter connected on a pair of triples during the run
• Benedictine swept the season series with Marian, winning twice in a two week span

FROM THE COACH
"We were fortunate to be able to extend the lead at the end of the first half and open of the second," head coach Keith Bunkenburg said. "Marian has a very good team. We are in the middle of a tough stretch in the schedule and need to continue playing consistent basketball."

STAT LEADERS
• Blaszczyk led all scorers with 25 points, scoring 17 in the first half
• Blaszczyk made 11 field goals and was 3-for-5 from three-point range as Benedictine made 11 three in the contest
• The game marked the fifth time this season that Benedictine has made 10 or more three-pointers and the eighth with more than five
• Balance led the way after Blaszczyk as the next leading scorer was John Dodson and Adam Reynolds with nine points each
• Luke Johnson, the top rebounder in the conference and one of the best in the nation, grabbed 12 boards as Benedictine held a 47-31 edge
• Tahron Harvey dished seven assists as Benedictine assisted on 23 of the 34 field goals
• Benedictine shot 53.1 percent in the second half and finished the game at 50.7 percent, the sixth game of the year at 50 percent or better
• The defense limited Marian to just 31.1 percent shooting, the fourth straight game of an opponent shooting under 40 percent
• 11 different players scored and 17 saw action

UP NEXT
• Benedictine (9-0, 6-0 NACC) has a pair of non-conference games on the docket to close 2015, both against CCIW schools
• Benedictine travels to North Central on Tuesday night
• North Central is receiving votes in the D3hoops.com Top 25
• The game will be the third in the last seven days