Men's Basketball comeback effort held off by Clarke on the road

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Clarke University came out of the locker room at the half on Saturday clicking offensively as they hosted the return game with Benedictine Men's Basketball

Benedictine led 42-39 at the break but watched as that lead quickly evaporated as Clarke tied the game on their second half's first basket. The lead changed hands two times before the Pride used a 16-2 run to pull away from the Ravens en route to a 101-92 win.

The two teams traded 3-pointers to open the game as Benedictine's Jack Vander Woude answered for the Ravens on their first basket of the game. From there the game played through 3 ties and 6 lead changes before the Ravens used a 14-4 run through the middle of the half to pull ahead by 10 points. 

Harrison Kisling gave the Ravens their second 10-point lead of the half with just over 8 minutes left before halftime before the Pride gradually chipped away at the lead before Benedictine took a 41-39 lead into the break.

Preston Reynolds and Kisling scored the first 5 points of the second half to put Benedictine back into the lead with each basket before the Pride took over the lead. Ezrah Viagafa tied the game at 54 points before the Pride went on their run to pull ahead by as much as 14 before the midway point of the half.

Trailing by as much as 15, Benedictine battled back to cut their deficit to 9 points on a 3-pointer from Kisling inside the final 2 minutes. The Pride scored 11 points at the free throw line over the final 2 minutes of the game to hold the Ravens comeback effort.

Vander Woude scored 21 points to lead four Ravens in double figures. Kisling finished with 21, followed by Larry Parker III with 18 points while Deaglan Sullivan finished with 13 points.

Benedictine returns home for their next two games, hosting Central Methodist University on Wednesday before hosting MNU on Jan. 25. 

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