Benedictine Mesa Men's Basketball secured a commanding victory over Westcliff University Friday afternoon, winning 79-64.
In a tightly contested first half, the Benedictine Mesa Redhawks faced an early uphill battle against Westcliff University but showcased resilience and teamwork to stay in the game. The Warriors struck first, with Evan Hoosier opening the scoring at 18:47, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead. Despite an early timeout, Westcliff maintained their momentum, pushing the score to 6-2.
The Redhawks gradually found their footing, with key contributions from players like
Deven Foster and
Malik Payton. Foster's jumper and Payton's dynamic play narrowed the deficit to 9-6. Defensively, Benedictine stepped up, with
Malik Payton and
Tanner Crawford providing crucial rebounds and steals to disrupt Westcliff's flow.
Offensively, the Redhawks gained traction as the half progressed. A standout moment came when
Seth Dawson drained a three-pointer to keep the lead with just over six minutes left. The team continued to widen the gap, with Foster and
Deven Franks making key plays. The late surge from the Redhawks allowed them to pull ahead 35-25 by the break, setting the stage for a dominant second-half performance.
The Redhawks came out strong in the second half, quickly establishing a commanding lead.
Damian Zivak set the tone with a block and a defensive rebound, followed by a jumper at 19:21.
Deven Franks' perfect free-throw shooting and
Seth Dawson's mid-range jumpers extended Benedictine's lead.
Momentum shifted decisively when Payton nailed a three-pointer at 15:01, pushing the Redhawks to a double-digit advantage. Their defensive pressure and ability to capitalize on turnovers were pivotal, with
Jaylin Turner and
Tanner Crawford contributing vital points in the paint. Franks' three-pointer off a Zivak assist at 16:11 further solidified the lead.
Substitutions brought fresh energy, with Payton and Foster continuing the scoring onslaught. Foster's three-point play at 9:25 highlighted Benedictine's offensive dominance. Disciplined play and strategic timeouts ensured the Redhawks maintained control throughout the second half, securing a comfortable victory.
Key Players
Looking Ahead
The Redhawks return to the court on Tuesday, December 10th, hosting West Coast Baptist College at 5 PM.
