MESA, Ariz. – The OUAZ men's basketball team came up short in an 84-80 loss at Benedictine Mesa on Wednesday night at Mesa Community College.
 
Neither team was able to manage must offensive rhythm in the game as they played through 58 foul calls and 85 free throw attempts. That allowed the game to stay close as neither team led by more than six and there was 20 ties and 16 lead changes.
 
OUAZ (0-3) couldn't capitalize on a night when Brian King Jr. tied a school record with 37 points. King made 13 of 25 field goal attempts – with two 3-pointers – and was perfect on nine trips to the foul line. He also led the team with five rebounds and two steals.
 
The Spirit shot 46.6 percent from the field and they scored 40 points in the paint. They made just 23 of 35 at the foul line – 65.7 percent – and went 3 of 17 from beyond the arc.
 
Benedictine Mesa (4-0) ended the night shooting 40.4 percent from the floor and making 38 of 50 at the foul line. They had a 42-31 edge in rebounds and got 12 points from 10 offensive rebounds.
 
Tanner Riley added 19 points and five rebounds for OUAZ. Leandro Amador scored nine points.
 
The Spirit opened a five-point lead with 3:56 to play when a steal and layup from King capped an 11-0 run. They held the lead until the final minute when Jorge Cano converted an and-one to give the Redhawks a 78-77 cushion. The Spirit would twice tie the game in the final minute, but Benedictine converted enough free throws to hold on for the win.
 
Cano led BenU with 25 points while Michael Carter Jr. added 22.
 
OUAZ will now have a few days off of competition before heading to the Bulldog Tipoff Classic on November 16-17 in Redlands, California. The Spirit will face Augsburg and Cal Miramar at the event.