Benedictine defeated Peru State in men’s college basketball Thursday evening 80-70.  It was the HAAC conference opener for both teams.  Benedictine improves to 7-1 on the year with the Bobcats dropping to 3-6.   

An 18-3 run to end the first half gave Benedictine a comfortable advantage at halftime leading 38-20 as Peru State struggled offensively.  In the second half, Peru State closed within seven at 72-65, but could not get any closer.

 Bobcat Kody Kirkpatrick led all scorers with 25 points. He hit 5 of 8 from three-point range.  Taylor Christensen and Nate Bohy also finished in double figures for Peru State with 11 and ten respectively.