Fayette, Mo. - The No. 20 Central Methodist men's basketball team dropped a close contest to Benedictine College by a score of 67-63 Monday night inside Puckett Field House.
With the loss, Central falls to 12-4 and 3-2 in conference play. Benedictine improves to 9-5 and 3-2 in the Heart.
The first eight minutes of the game featured large scoring runs from both sides. Benedictine opened the game with nine unanswered points, before Central called a timeout. CMU came out of the timeout scoring 11-straight points, highlighted by seven from junior guard Jonathan Brown.
Both teams exchanged baskets throughtout the remainder of the half, as neither team never led by more more than four over the final 12 minutes of the first. CMU would take a narrow 31-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Central and Benedictine continued to battle in the second, before an 8-0 scoring run by the Ravens pushed the lead to 53-45. Benedictine stretched its lead to 10 with less than nine minutes remaining. However, Central scored eight unanswered points to trim the deficit to two.
The final two minutes of the game came down to the wire, as Central trailed 60-59 with 2:27 remaining. However, stingy defense and timely free throws from Benedictine in the closing moments gave the Ravens a narrow four-point victory.
Brown led the scoring efforts with 19 points on seven-of-17 shooting from the field, which included three three-point baskets. Brown also added five rebounds and four steals. Isaiah May reached double figures for the 10th time this season, adding 13 points on 50-percent shooting. In addition, May led the team with eight rebounds and added two assists, one steal and a block.
Thomas Sowoolu and Dwayne McClendon nearly cracked double-figures with nine points each. Senior guard Tim Cameron tallied seven points and recorded seven rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
As a team, the Eagles shot just 25-percent from three, compared to 40-percent from Benedictine.
Central continues Heart play with a matchup against Baker Univeristy Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Baldwin City, Kan.
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