Second-half comeback falls just short in 81-79 defeat to Benedictine

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Clarke University men's basketball team returned to the Kehl Center Saturday afternoon after three-straight on the road, but failed to win their third straight game after an 81-79 defeat against Benedictine University in overtime.

The Ravens would score the first bucket of the game and that would be the only lead the Ravens would have for the remainder of the first 20 minutes. The Pride found themselves on an 11-4 run sparked by a pair of Biggie Luster three-pointers. The Ravens would find themselves down a single point multiple times, but the Pride would always have an answer and a 41-35 advantage at the break. Both teams would shoot 50% from the floor, but the difference would be the Pride shooting 10-21 (47.6%) from three-point range and the Ravens shooting 4-14 (28.6%). The Pride had three players reach double-figures in the first half as Luster led early with 14 points, Chandler Dean scored 12, and Anthony Eddy chipped in 11 points at the break.

The Ravens would take their first lead since 2-0 with 16:27 left in regulation after a Preston Reynolds lay-in had the score at 44-43. The Ravens would build their lead up to as much as 11 points with 9:04 left in regulation before the Pride would begin their run to get back in it. The Pride finished regulation on a 19-8 run, led by strong defensive play in which the Pride would generate offense through their defense.

With the score 72-72, both teams would miss their final shot in regulation, as Chris Burnell took the final shot for the Pride and Sam Ungashick would throw up a half-court heave as time expired.

The Pride would be outscored in the five-minute overtime period 9-7, but had a half-court heave of their own by Burnell fall off the front of the rim as the buzzer sounded.

The Pride would finish the game shooting 27-61 (44.3%) from the floor and 16-39 (41%) from three-point range. After winning the turnover battle in the first half 10-3, the Pride finished with a 19-11 advantage for the game. The Ravens took charge of the painted area all game as they would have a 38-14-point advantage.

Senior, Chandler Dean scored a season high 22 points on 7-10 from the floor and 5-6 from deep. Luster would add six points to his total in the second half and finished with 19 and added five steals. Eddy would finish his day with 15 points on 4-9 from deep. Junior, Daquon Lewis would have a productive day, finishing with nine points on 3-5 from the floor.

The Pride men's basketball team will have over a week off from competition as they will play an exhibition on Wednesday, December 28th in Maryville, Missouri and then continue Heart play at home on December 31st against Grand View for a 2 pm CST tip-off.