ATCHISON, Kan. – The No. 24 Central Methodist University men's basketball team fell to a hot-shooting No. 7 Benedictine College in a tight road game full of offensive runs and defensive momentum.

The Eagles (12-8, 7-7 Heart) had to battle back in the first half after getting off to a slow offensive start, erasing a 13-point deficit and forcing a 34-34 tie at the intermission. The 21-8 run, which spanned over nine minutes of play, was sparked by a three-pointer from Christian Soderholm (JR/Peru, Ill.), a transition basket in the paint from Jordan Ankrom (SR/Farmington, Mo.), and back-to-back three's from Isiah Sykes (JR/Holt Summit, Mo.) and Sodoerholm.

The offensive swell sputtered early in the second half as the Ravens built a 17-4 run in the opening five minutes of action. Central Methodist began chipping away at the double-digit deficit and drew within three after a layup from Isaiah Thurmond (SR/Alton, Ill.) with 4:45 left to play, but that was as close as they would get in their comeback attempt before Benedictine put together another surge.

The Eagles finished near their season average from the field with a 40 percent showing, but were unable to stop a red-hot Ravens squad that shot 60 percent in the contest and went 11-for-20 from beyond the arc.

Sykes and Soderholm came off of the bench to lead the team in scoring with 10 points each, combining for five of the six total three-pointers for Central Methodist. Cameron Tutt (SR/Owensboro, Ky.) led the team on the glass with eight rebounds while also tacking on seven points and one steal.

Up next, Central Methodist will host Grand View on Saturday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is set for 4 pm in Puckett Field House.