PLYMOUTH, WI - Shooting 53 percent in the first half, the 19th-ranked Benedictine University men's basketball team made quick work of Lakeland University in the first meeting of the year.

FINAL SCORE
Benedictine 85, Lakeland 65

THE DETAILS
• A pair of free throws from Michael Blaszczyk put Benedictine ahead for good just over 30 seconds into the game
• A 16-3 run turned a 9-6 lead into a 25-9 edge halfway through the first following back-to-back layups from Tahron Harvey
• The lead grew to 20 on a three-pointer from Blaszczyk with 7:24 remaining
• Adam Reynolds extended the lead to 26 at 47-21 in the final minute of the first half
• Lakeland pulled within 60-41 at the 12:41 marker of the second before Harvey kicked off an 11-2 run to make the score 71-43 with 10:33 to go
• The hosts could pull no closer than 18 the rest of the way
• Benedictine led for 39:37 of the contest

FROM THE COACH
"We got off to a quick start and never let them back in the game," said head coach Keith Bunkenburg. "Our seniors played well. Blaze (Blaszczyk) shot the ball well, Tahron (Harvey) controlled the game, and Adam (Reynolds) defended and rebounded well. We are in a tough stretch of games and we are attempting to stay fresh. We need everyone to contribute for us to be successful."

STAT LEADERS
• Blaszczyk matched a career high by knocking down six three-pointers and made his first seven shots overall in scoring 29 points
• Harvey finished with 23 points, adding nine assists and five rebounds
• Reynolds tallied a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds
• Benedictine shot 48.3 percent for the game and made 10 triples
• Benedictine held a 37-35 edge on the glass

UP NEXT
Benedictine (15-4, 13-1 NACC) continues a busy stretch of six games in 12 days with a Tuesday home contest against Aurora, who currently sits in second place