The Benedictine Mesa Men's Basketball Team battled hard but fell to Hope International, 73-66, on Saturday afternoon.
Hope International struck first, but the Redhawks quickly responded as
Malakai Harris drained a jumper at 18:19 to get Benedictine Mesa on the board.
Emad Elniel followed with a layup, keeping the Redhawks within two points. Strong defensive efforts from Elniel and Harris, who each recorded key blocks, helped Benedictine Mesa stay in the fight early.
Despite the Redhawks' defensive presence, Hope International capitalized on turnovers and second-chance opportunities, pushing their lead to 10-6. Benedictine Mesa looked to shift momentum with a timeout, and Aiden Olmsted added a free throw to bring the score to 10-7. However, the Royals maintained their edge, taking advantage of key possessions to hold their lead throughout the first half.
Trailing 40-35 at halftime, the Redhawks had an early chance to close the gap after
Malik Payton came up with a steal, but they were unable to convert. Hope International extended their lead to 47-35 before
Tanner Crawford finished a layup off a
Damian Zivak assist to get Benedictine Mesa back on the board.
The Redhawks found some offensive rhythm as Payton and
Deven Franks knocked down key shots, with Franks' three-pointer cutting the deficit to just four at 51-47. However, Hope International responded with a clutch three-pointer to halt the Redhawks' momentum.
Benedictine Mesa fought to stay within striking distance, but Hope International's rebounding and defensive stops made the difference in the closing minutes. Despite a strong effort from the Redhawks, the Royals held on for the win.
Key Performers
Looking Ahead
The Redhawks return to action on Wednesday as they host Embry-Riddle in their next matchup.
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