Benedictine Mesa earned a hard-fought 88–85 victory over Embry-Riddle on Saturday, powered by balanced scoring, timely defensive plays, and a fierce second-half surge that flipped the momentum.

First Half:
The Redhawks set the tone early, jumping out to a 5–0 lead after a Damian Zivak three and a strong finish by Eric Blackwell. BenU's defense was sharp out of the gate as well, cleaning the glass and forcing contested looks. Robinson, Anderson, and Howard kept the offense steady as the Redhawks maintained control through much of the opening half.

Embry-Riddle hit a streak from deep to chip away, eventually taking the lead late in the first period. But Benedictine Mesa responded with poise— Antione Anderson knocked down a jumper, and in the closing seconds a technical foul on the Eagles allowed the Redhawks to close within 41–36 at halftime, setting the stage for a tightly contested second half.

Second Half:
After the break, Benedictine Mesa wasted no time making a push. Zivak and Dunn sparked early baskets, and the Redhawks' defense tightened, generating turnovers and transition chances. Malik Payton continued attacking the rim with confidence, finishing multiple drives to keep the score tight as both teams traded blows.

The game's turning point came midway through the half when Luis Marin took over offensively. The sophomore guard sliced through the defense for three straight layups, later completing a three-point play that gave BenU a 70–69 lead, its first since early in the game. Moments later, Howard fueled the run with back-to-back steals that led directly to Redhawk points, igniting the crowd and helping stretch the lead to 74–69.

Embry-Riddle answered with timely threes to keep the game within reach, but Benedictine Mesa showed veteran composure. Payton powered in a crucial and-one at the 2:25 mark to make it 80–75, and Robinson and Blackwell continued attacking the basket as the Redhawks maintained a narrow edge in the closing minutes.

With the game hanging in the balance, Blackwell sank key free throws in the final 30 seconds to keep Embry-Riddle at arm's length. Though the Eagles hit one final late three, Robinson secured the last defensive rebound with one second remaining, sealing the 88–85 victory.
 
Key Players:

• Luis Marin: 16 points, 1 rebound
• Malik Payton: 15 points, 2 steals, 2 rebounds
• Eric Blackwell: 14 points, 7 rebounds

Looking Ahead: The Redhawks secured their position in the GSAC Conference Tournament and look to take on Arizona Christian on February 27^th on the road.