LISLE, IL - The 11th-ranked Benedictine University men's basketball team rallied from a 15-point first half deficit to secure a second consecutive NACC Tournament championship and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.

FINAL SCORE
#11 Benedictine 93, Concordia Wisconsin 89

THE DETAILS
• Concordia Wisconsin exploded out of the box, opening a 12-0 lead to start the game
• The advantage reached 15 points at 17-2 less than five minutes into the contest
• Still trailing 20-5 with 14:39 left in the first half, Brayden Olson connected on a three-pointer to spark the team
• Michael Blaszczyk kicked off an 8-0 run by hammering home a dunk following a steal from Tahron Harvey
• A transition layup from Harvey brought Benedictine within 24-20 with 9:34 left in the half
• Trailing 29-22, Kenny Bogus scored a layup to start a 9-0 run
• Bogus made a three-pointer with 6:06 remaining in the first to put Benedictine ahead for the first time at 31-29
• Benedictine did not trail again the remainder of the half, leading by five points on a three-pointer from Blaszczyk and took a 43-41 lead into the break
• Concordia Wisconsin started the second half the same way as the first, making three consecutive three-pointers to use a 9-0 run to lead 50-43 with 18:26 to play
• Adam Reynolds finished a 7-0 run to tie the game with 15:28 remaining
• Tied at 54 moments later, Benedictine used an 11-2 run to jump ahead 65-56 past the midway point of the half on a basket from Matt Chaltin
• The visitors battled within four points with just over eight minutes remaining
• Benedictine utilized another 9-0 run to move ahead by 14 points at 78-64 with just over three minutes left
• Benedictine continued to lead by 12 with 1:01 left on two free throws from Harvey
• Concordia Wisconsin did not give up, battling within three points in the final moments
• The win marked the 12th in a row for Benedictine since a loss to Concordia Wisconsin broke a 34-game conference win streak
• Benedictine reached the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive season, marking the second time in program history that the team will play in consecutive tournaments
• Benedictine became just the second team ever to repeat as NACC Tournament champs

STAT LEADERS
• Benedictine shot 50.7 percent in the contest but was outrebounded 39-36
• Benedictine posted 23 assists and turned the ball over just six times
• Harvey tallied his second triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists
• Reynolds picked up 27 points, making 11 field goals, to go with eight rebounds
• Olson collected 21 points and Blaszczyk notched 18
• The bench contributed 29 points

UP NEXT
Benedictine (23-4) awaits an opponent and destination in the NCAA Tournament. Pairings will be announced at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.