LISLE, ILL.—First place Benedictine University welcomed the Illinois Institute of Technology men's basketball team to the Dan and Ada Gymnasium for a Wednesday-night bout. Miles Curry turned in a clutch performance for the Scarlet Hawks with a game-high 24 points, which included a free throw with 16:19 left in the second that gave IIT their largest lead of the contest at 35-28. That seven-point cushion dwindled as Benedictine responded with a 12-20 (.600) mark from the floor and forced nine Illinois Tech turnovers to close the game en route to a 31-18 run, which helped them seal a 59-53 victory. 

The loss sends IIT to 6-12, 4-9 NACC while Benedictine improves to 15-3, 11-2 NACC.

"Very disappointing, because I know we're just as good if not better than Benedictine," said IIT head men's basketball coach Todd Kelly. "You're not going to win turning the ball over 10 times in a half. I was satisfied with our defense, holding them to only 59 points but we turned the ball over way too much at the end of the game. Our point guard play today was awful. You can't win when your point guards have zero assists and six turnovers."

Max Hisatake returned to his double double ways with 14 points and his fifth 17-rebound performance of the season along with four blocks. His offensive performance included a buzzer-beating dunk that gave Illinois Tech a 28-25 halftime edge.

MBB | Nothing like a Max Hisatake buzzer-beating dunk!! Halftime score: IIT 28, @BenUEagles1887 25 pic.twitter.com/zjcixbuus2

— Illinois Tech Athletics (@ILTechAthletics) January 30, 2020 

The Eagles, who shot .407 (22-54) from the floor, had four guys in double figures, led by Eric Grygo's 14 points, nine boards and four blocks. 

The Scarlet Hawks will return to action on Saturday, February 1 at home against Edgewood College at 2:00 p.m.