After leading the entire game, Benedictine closed to within one at 70-69 after a step-back three-pointer from Matt Harrison with 2:25 remaining in the game. The Eagles then took their first lead of the game at 71-70 after a layup from Jordan Dunsmore with 1:39 to go. The Cardinals answered when Dan Walton (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) scored inside on an assist from Mike Wilson (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) to vault back ahead at 72-71 with 1:25 on the clock. Benedictine's Zach Ramey responded with a basket of his own with 1:07 left for a 73-72 lead. After the teams exchanged turnovers, North Central had one last chance for the win with seven seconds on the clock. The Cardinals ran their final play to perfection but Wilson was unable to get his shot off before the horn sounded.
Wilson finished with 18 points and eight assists. Walton added a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony Simmons (Bolingbrook, Ill./Romeoville) contributed eight points off the bench.
Benedictine was led by Ramey's 20 points. Marcus Jackson had 13 and Adam Hansen 12. Dunsmore and Matt Harrison each chipped in 11.
North Central got out to an 11-0 lead after a Wilson jumper just four minutes into the game. The patient Cardinal offense worked to perfection in the first half, shooting 56 percent from the floor (18-32) en route to a 43-35 hafltime advantage. North Central kept its lead at five points or better the entire second half until the final five minutes.