Benedictine Mesa Men's Basketball came out firing in the opening minutes but couldn't sustain the early momentum, falling 95-96 to Nelson University-Arizona in a competitive exhibition.

The Redhawks opened the first half with precision and intensity, jumping out to a 7–0 lead behind back-to-back buckets from Khari Dunn and a three-pointer by Damian Zivak. Isaiah Howard was key in that stretch, dishing out multiple assists and forcing turnovers that kept Nelson on their heels.

After Benedictine's fast start, Nelson began to find their rhythm. Led by Keron Bailey and Terrin Ross, the home team responded with a 14–2 run that flipped the score and gave them their first lead at 14–13. Nelson continued to attack the paint, taking advantage of Redhawk turnovers to build a 32–21 lead midway through the first half.

Benedictine clawed their way back late in the half. Howard, Malik Payton, and Eric Blackwell provided a spark—combining for three straight scoring possessions to narrow the gap to 47–43 going into halftime.

In the second half, the Redhawks once again surged early. A three-pointer from Luis Marin followed by another deep shot from Zivak tied the game at 51–51. But Nelson's Ross and Wyatt Mackay responded with strong inside play, giving the hosts the edge down the stretch.

In the final minute, the Redhawks took a one-point lead, but a late foul sent the Warriors to the free-throw line, where they converted both shots to regain the advantage. With just two seconds remaining, the Redhawks' last-second heave fell short, and the Warriors held on for a 96–95 victory.

Key Players:

• Isaiah Howard: 24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal
• Damian Zivak: 18 points, 4 rebounds
• Luis Marin: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

Looking Ahead:
The Redhawks return to the court on November 8 as they host the University of Providence.