LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University men's basketball team will be one of two unbeaten teams to enter the NCAA Tournament after winning the NACC Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

FINAL SCORE
Benedictine 83, MSOE 57

THE DETAILS
• Benedictine was able to overcome a slow start, falling behind 4-0
• Trailing 6-5, Luke Johnson opened a 13-0 run with a jumper to give Benedictine the lead with 16:05 left in the first half
• Benedictine did not trail again
• Tahron Harvey hit a jumper to make the lead double figures at 16-6 and Matt Chaltin capped the run with a jumper at the 11:48 mark, making the score 18-6
• Benedictine led by as many as 17 points in the first half following a transition basket from Michael Blaszczyk with 2:50 remaining in the first and led by double digits for most of the half, holding a 37-24 lead at the break
• MSOE was able to cut the deficit to 51-45 with 13:36 to go in the game, but Benedictine slowly extended the lead to pull away
• John Dodson splashed home a jumper with 6:55 left to make the score 71-51 and Benedictine led by as many as 27 points down the stretch
• The tournament title marked the second for Benedictine in NACC history (2011 - sent to Wooster for the NCAA Tournament)

FROM THE COACH
"I am proud of our team," head coach Keith Bunkenburg said. "Going into the NCAA Tournament unbeaten is a great achievement not only for everyone associated with the program, but all of Benedictine University. We were really able to get after it defensively and did a great job of contesting shots. We were able to work in transition and get the ball inside. We did a much better job on the glass in the second half to help put the game away. I give credit to MSOE for an outstanding run through the tournament and a great season."

STAT LEADERS
• Benedictine held MSOE to just 30.3 percent shooting while overcoming an off-day from behind the arc, shooting just 3-for-23
• The top rebounding team in the nation, Benedictine held a 52-40 advantage on the glass
• Three players reached double figures led by 19 from Blaszczyk, who finished 8-for-12 from the field
• Harvey finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists
• Johnson collected his third consecutive double-double and his 14th of the season
• Benedictine scored 52 points in the paint

UP NEXT
Benedictine (27-0) joins Lancaster Bible as the first teams to enter the NCAA Tournament unbeaten since 2009. The NCAA will announce the pairings of the tournament on Monday morning.