Game Notes

FAYETTE, Mo. - No. 4-seed Central Methodist welcomes No. 5-seed Benedictine (Kan.) on Thursday to Puckett Fieldhouse in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT.

The game can be seen and heard live online at cmueagles.com.

Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals
No. 4-seed Central Methodist (18-12) vs. No. 5-seed Benedictine (18-11)
Thursday, February 28 - 8 p.m. CT
Fayette, Mo. - Puckett Fieldhouse (1,700)
Promotion: "White Out"
Live Video and Radio:�cmueagles.com
Radio Talent: Tyler Winn
Live Stats:�cmueagles.com
Live Chat: cmueagles.com
Twitter Updates:�@cmueagles

Series Information:
Last Meeting: Central Methodist defeated Benedictine, 76-72, in overtime on Feb. 16, 2013.
Series History: The Eagles are 4-3 in the last seven meetings between the two teams.

About Central Methodist:
Central Methodist enters Thursday's game with an 18-12 overall record. Despite losing the regular-season finale at No. 22 Culver-Stockton (Mo.), the Eagles ended winning four of five games.

Elliott Black�leads the team and ranks fifth in the HAAC in scoring average at 15.7 points per game. Black leads the conference shooting 50.8 percent from the field.�Melvin Tillman�ranks 10th in the HAAC in scoring average at 14.8 points per contest, while�Eric Franklin�ranks third in the league in assists per game (4.7).

The Eagles are 9-4 in Puckett Fieldhouse this season.

About Benedictine:
Benedictine enters Thursday's game 18-11 overall after losing the regular-season finale at Baker (Kan.).

Jallen Messersmith leads the conference and ranks third in Division I in blocks per game (1.96) and fourth in total blocks (53).

Charlie Wallrapp is 13th in the country in defensive rebounds per game (5.8).

Buzzer-Beaters

The last three matchups between the Eagles and Ravens have come down to the last shot of the regulation. Melvin Tillman found the bottom of the net for a game-winning bucket with 1.3 seconds left� to lift Central�Methodist to a 53-51 victory at Benedictine last season.�A John Harris, Jr. putback of a missed baseline jumper as time expired gave the Ravens a 51-50 victory earlier this season. Central Methodist's Alex Barner forced overtime on Feb. 16 with a game-tying trey as time expired in the second half.

Black Goes Off Against Ravens

Central Methodist senior forward Elliott Black poured in a career-high 34 points in the 76-72 overtime win against Benedictine. Against the HAAC's top-ranked defense, Black finished 14-of-19 from the field and 6-of-9 from the charity stripe.

Messersmith, Ravens Use to Rejection

Led by forward Jallen�Messersmith, Benedictine is the top-ranked team in the HAAC in defense and blocked shots. Messersmith had two blocks versus the Eagles on Jan. 12 but none on Feb. 16.

The Eagles had four blocks compared to only one by the Ravens in the earlier matchup in Fayette. The one block on Feb. 16 matched a season low for Benedictine.

Free Throws

If the game remains close late, and judging by recent outcomes it will be, free throws may decide the winner. If that is the case, then give the edge to the Eagles, who rank second in the HAAC in free throw percentage (72.8 percent). The Ravens are in the middle of the pack, tied for fifth in the conference with a 67.5 percent clip.

Central Methodist Ranks in Multiple NAIA Division I Categories