LAWRENCE – The University of St. Mary hit a last-second 3-pointer on Saturday to hand Benedictine Men's Basketball a 71-70 loss in their second game of the Ernie Steven Jr. Classic hosted by Haskell Indian Nations University.

The two teams traded shots throughout the first half. With just under 6 minutes left in the first half, the Spires pulled ahead by 7 points and then went cold as the Ravens outscored them 11-4 over the next 3 minutes to tie the game at 26. The Ravens were not able to the final minute of the half when a free throw from Deaglan Sullivan and a 3-pointer from Jack Vander Woude gave Benedictine a 34-30 lead at the half.

Benedictine opened the second half outscoring USM 12-4 to open up a 12-point lead just over 5 minutes into the half. The Spires answered that run with a 12-0 run of their own to pull back in front near the midpoint on the half. 

Over the final 10 minutes of the game, the two teams traded the lead 10 times with 4 ties until the Spires hit the last-second 3-pointer for the win.

Three Ravens finished in double figures with Sullivan leading the way with 24. Vander Woude added 16 while Larry Parker III added 12. Preston Reynolds scored 9 points and 9 rebounds to round out the Ravens offensive efforts. 

Benedictine returns home on Wednesday to host Kansas Christian College at 7 p.m. inside the Ralph Nolan Gymnasium before opening up Heart of America Athletic Conference play on Saturday at 7 p.m. at home with William Penn University.

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