Benedictine (11-3, 1-0 NIIC) won its NIIC opener for the third time in five seasons. The Eagles were slated to open conference play at home against Rockford College on Jan. 5, but that game was postponed due to inclement weather. Dominican (6-7, 1-1 NIIC) fell back below the .500 mark with the loss.
The visitors scored the first six points of the game only to see Dominican tie the game with three straight buckets. Benedictine responded with a 14-2 run over the next four minutes, keyed by seven points from Jimmy Franklin, to take its biggest lead of the half at 20-8. Binyamin Jones had five points in a 7-0 run for the host Stars, which got Benedictine's lead down to 20-15.
The Eagles built their lead back to double digits (30-19) with three minutes left in the first half, thanks in part to a pair of Will Crawford baskets. However, Dominican kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for the remainder of the half, and used five points from Ronald Moore to cut its deficit to 30-26 by the break.
Ivano Clay hit a pair of treys in the first six minutes of the second half, which helped push Dominican ahead by a 40-37 count. That's when Benedictine went on its 13-0 run, which was started with a conventional three-point play from Franklin. Jordan Dunsmore had a pair of baskets in the run, while Mike Shimkus added a bucket and Harrison a 3-pointer.
A three-point play from Clay cut Dominican's deficit to six points (52-46), but Shimkus capped a 10-2 run that spanned the next 4:30 that left the visitors with their biggest lead of the day (62-48). Benedictine only scored one basket the rest of the way, but Dominican did not get the lead under 10 points until the final minute.
Harrison was joined in double figures by Franklin (13), Crawford (10) and Shimkus (10); Franklin's point total was a season high, while Shimkus equaled his season best in his first start of the season. Benedictine improved to 11-1 this season when at least three players reach double figures in the scoring column.
Jones ended up with game highs of 22 points and 10 boards for Dominican, while Ocie Peet contributed 14 for the Stars.
The two teams were only called for nine fouls each and combined to shoot just 14 free throws.
Benedictine continues league play on Wednesday, Jan. 12, when it visits Clarke College