LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University men's basketball team safely returned to action by following all return to play regulations but suffered a season opening 73-72 overtime loss to visiting Trine.

FINAL SCORE
Trine 73, Benedictine 72

THE DETAILS
• Trine led for most of the contest, but the game was close throughout
• Michael Johnson hit a jumper with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half to hand Benedictine a 15-13 lead
• Trine would score the next five points and hold the lead until late in the second half
• A three-pointer with just under two minutes to go in the first half enabled Trine to lead by seven points at 26-19
• Johnson connected on a triple in the closing minute to draw Benedictine within 26-22 at the half
• Chris Hester capped a three-point play to tie the game at 28 early in the second half
• The visitors tallied eight in a row to open the largest lead of the game at 40-30 with 14:55 to play

• Nick Kosich and Collin Mergl connected on consecutive three-pointers to cut the margin to 40-36
• Kyle Hornacek splashed in a three to make the score 42-39 with 11:53 left and Mergl followed with a three to tie the game with 11:17 left
• Benedictine was unable to take the lead until a pair of free throws from Trevor Montiel finished an 8-2 run with just over five minutes remaining
• Montiel, playing in his first collegiate contest, scored the final seven points of regulation including a pair of putbacks as Benedictine held a 63-61 edge in the final seconds
• Trine's Nick Bowman drove through the lane and floated home the tying shot with 2.2 seconds left to send the game into overtime
• After two free throws from Trine to open the extra session, Benedictine took control, taking a 68-65 lead on a three from Kosich
• Johnson deposited two free throws as Benedictine led 72-65 in the final 30 seconds
• Trine put on the press and forced three straight turnovers, closing the game on a 8-0 run finished when Bowman hit the winning three-pointer just before the buzzer
• Trine improved to 3-0 after playing twice in November
• The contest, which was the first at home for any Benedictine team since a men's lacrosse game on March 11, featured 11 ties and 10 lead changes

STAT LEADERS
• Montiel paced Benedictine with a double-double in his debut, notching a team high 16 points to go with 11 rebounds over his 33 minutes of action
• Johnson and Hester each added 15 points
• Benedictine finished the game shooting 42.2 percent (27-64) while holding a 44-38 edge on the glass
• Trine turned 19 Benedictine turnovers into 22 points

UP NEXT
Benedictine (0-1) will host Concordia Wisconsin in a non-conference game on January 23 at 2:00 p.m.