Benedictine (5-1) laid claim for consideration in the national rankings with its effort away from home this week. On Nov. 30, the Eagles defeated 21st-ranked Carthage College (73-62) on the road, and on Dec. 3, they overcame a 20-point first-half deficit by rallying to defeat Washington (Mo.) University in the first round of the Bill Merris Classic.
Illinois College (3-2) took an early 6-2 lead, but neither team led by more than four points over the first 13 minutes of the game, at which the two teams were knotted at 20-20. However, Benedictine took control of the game by scoring 11 of the next 14 points. Jimmy Franklin and Zach Ramey each hit 3-pointers, and Will Crawford had five points, including a conventional 3-point play, in the run. Benedictine was limited to just two buckets over the last five minutes of the first stanza, a pair of jumpers from Brice Amelianovich.
Benedictine pushed its lead out to as many as 14 points on three occasions in the opening minutes of the second half behind four points each from Crawford and Matt Harrison. Illinois College was able to get as close as five points with under four minutes left, but Ramey helped to ice away the game by making 5-of-6 free throws in the final 2:44.
Benedictine was led by Crawford's 13-point, nine-rebound effort, while Marcus Jackson added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Franklin contributed 12 points of his own. The Eagles held a 50-35 advantage on the boards, including 15 offensive boards that led to 14 second-chance points.
Illinois College's Evan Arnold led all scorers with 15 points, while Dylan Dudley contributed 10. The Blueboys were 0-for-14 from 3-point range in the loss.
Benedictine has another NCAA Division I foe on its slate next, as the Eagles play at Eastern Illinois University on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Their only loss this season to date was at Division I Loyola (Ill.) University on Nov. 27.