CHANDLER, Ariz. – The OUAZ men's basketball team was defeated in their season opener by Benedictine Mesa on Saturday evening when the Redhawks hit a jumper on their final possession to hold off the feisty Spirit, 96-94.
 
Down 50-39 at halftime, OUAZ started the second half with a 17-5 run to retake the lead early in the second half. The teams would trade the lead back and forth the next few minutes before the home team opened a 92-85 advantage with 2:13 to play in the game.
 
The Spirit had an answer with another 9-2 run and when Marcus Williams hit a three with 14 seconds to play the game was even at 94-94. Benedictine Mesa took the decisive lead seconds later and Brian Carey's three-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark.
 
On a night they shot 46.7 percent from the field, OUAZ shot a school-record 65.0 percent from beyond the arc at 13 of 20. The 13 made threes are fifth-most in a game in program history. The Spirit also scored 38 points in the paint and they got 22 points from 23 forced turnovers.
 
Dimetres Moore led the Spirit with 26 points on 10 of 19 shooting with four threes and seven rebounds. Williams hit on 7 of 10 from deep to finish with 23 points while adding three steals. Shazier Lawson made his OUAZ debut with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
 
OUAZ grabbed 10 of their 25 rebounds at the offensive end and the Spirit had 17 assists and 16 turnovers.
 
Benedictine Mesa ended the game shooting 56.1 percent overall and 55.2 percent from three with 16 makes. The Redhawks were good on 8 of 12 from three in the second half.
 
The Spirit will look for their first win of the season on Friday when they travel across town to face SAGU American Indian College at 7 p.m.