The Benedictine Mesa Men's Basketball Team delivered an impressive performance on Thursday night, defeating CETYS Mexicali 96-54.
 
The Redhawks set the tone early in the first half, powered by Deven Franks' scoring flurry, which included a jumper and two layups in the paint. This early momentum gave Benedictine an edge. Contributions from Tanner Crawford and Malik Payton kept the offense firing, with Payton's pivotal three-pointer pushing the team ahead 19-16 midway through the half. Damian Zivak then took over with sharp shooting, nailing back-to-back three-pointers to energize the home crowd and extend the lead to seven. Although CETYS Mexicali made efforts to close the gap with Alan Audelo's key scoring moments, including a clutch three-pointer, Benedictine's balanced attack and timely defensive stops allowed them to close the half firmly in control, leading 44-31.
 
The second half saw Benedictine Mesa assert dominance, combining relentless defense with efficient offense to maintain their grip on the game. Opening with a 15-point lead, the Redhawks capitalized on Seth Dawson's strong presence in the paint and a pair of electrifying dunks by Tanner Crawford. Defensive pressure from the Redhawks forced numerous turnovers, leading to fast-break points, including a standout layup from Benjamin Ramirez. Contributions from Franks and Payton at the free-throw line and inside the key, along with critical three-pointers from Ramirez and Malakai Harris, further widened the margin. A well-rounded team effort ensured CETYS Mexicali had no path back into the game, and the Redhawks cruised to a comfortable victory.
 
Key Players:

• Benjamin Ramirez: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 assist
• Seth Dawson: 16 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
• Tanner Crawford: 12 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block

 
Looking Ahead:
The Redhawks will face CETYS Mexicali again on Friday, November 22nd, at home. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM.