BENU qualifies for NAIA Tournament with win over SU - Mar 12, 2021
Benedictine-Mesa outran Simpson 83-69 in Thursday's second game of the California Pacific Conference Qualifying Tournament in San Elijo, Calif., garnering the Redhawks their second win of the round robin tournament and clinching the only slot to represent the conference in Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship. BENU, which becomes the first Redhawk program to represent the Cal Pac in a national tournament, will travel to Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, Ida., for the first round of games. "This is really exciting. Being a part of this program the last four years has been an amazing experience. Steve Schafer built this program, this athletic department, and he gave me this opportunity. I would not be here, I would not be the coach I am with him," said BENU head coach Frank Woodford . "We're going to take a few days off, enjoy this for a little while, and wait and see who we play next. Then we'll get back on the floor and get ready for whoever we have next." In Wednesday's opening round game, BENU had to battle to the final possession to beat host Saint Katherine, and the first 16 minutes of tonight's second round with the Red Hawks gave every indication that it would go down to the wire again. In those opening 16 minutes, both teams pushed both the tempo and the score back and forth, creating 11 lead changes and four ties. With 3:40 showing on the clock, Nick Sessions put back and missed shot to put BENU up 35-33, and the Redhawks would a lead the remaining 24 minutes of the game. But not without a fight from SU, which constantly battled back with aggressive defense and a stellar effort from Dylan Banks. Banks finished with 27 points, 19 coming in the second half. With 9:20 left in the game and down 61-50, Banks drove the lane and scored while getting fouled. He made the free throw to make it 61-53 and ignited a 7-2 run where he scored all the SU points and pulled them back to within six at 63-57. But it was not quite enough to counter the equally impressive performances by BENU's Maurice Walton (6'9''-F) and DJ Tate (6'2''-G), who accounted for 39 of the team's total points. Walton was the focal point of the offense--either powering inside for 22 points or passing out to open shooters when double-teamed--he dictated the tempo of the game from the low post. He also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. Tate was just as explosive, making 6-of-8 field goals--including a sizzling 5-of-6 from beyond the arc--for 17 points as well as pulling in eight boards. Tre Carolina added 12 points and five assists for BENU, now 5-8 on the season. SU (1-6) put up a great effort in the loss, and will have a chance to close out the season with a win over host Saint Katherine in tomorrow's final game of the tournament. Against BENU, Mason Johnson scored 11 points and JT Branch added seven points--four off of power dunks--and 10 rebounds.
Benedictine-Mesa outran Simpson 83-69 in Thursday's second game of the California Pacific Conference Qualifying Tournament in San Elijo, Calif., garnering the Redhawks their second win of the round robin tournament and clinching the only slot to represent the conference in Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship. BENU, which becomes the first Redhawk program to represent the Cal Pac in a national tournament, will travel to Lewis-Clark State in Lewiston, Ida., for the first round of games.
Woodford
