Benedictine Mesa used a strong defensive effort and a balanced scoring attack to pull away in the second half, securing an 82–61 victory over Life Pacific on Thursday.

First Half
Both teams opened the contest with high defensive energy, resulting in contested shots and early turnovers. Malik Payton produced the game's first points with a layup, and Damian Zivak followed with a three-pointer to give Benedictine Mesa an early edge.

Life Pacific countered at the free-throw line and briefly gained momentum behind Braxton Williams and Jayceon Smith, who combined to give the Warriors a short-lived lead midway through the half. Benedictine Mesa responded with effort plays, as Khari Dunn converted a basket off an offensive rebound and Isaiah Howard finished inside to swing the momentum back.

Eric Blackwell made his presence felt off the bench, knocking down multiple jumpers and drilling several three-pointers to ignite the Redhawks' offense. Luis Marin and Aiden Olmstead added timely contributions, while quality ball movement helped Benedictine Mesa maintain offensive balance.

Down the stretch of the half, Dunn capped a strong sequence with a layup and free throw, and Blackwell added a driving finish as Benedictine Mesa's defensive pressure forced late turnovers. The Redhawks entered halftime with a 37–26 advantage.

Second Half
Benedictine Mesa wasted no time extending its lead in the second half. Blackwell drained a three-pointer off a Payton assist on the Redhawks' first scoring possession, and Kamron Robinson followed with back-to-back baskets as the margin quickly grew.

Howard energized the crowd with a dunk during an early run, while Benedictine Mesa continued to capitalize on turnovers and defensive rebounds. Life Pacific attempted to respond behind Xerian Anderson and Albert Matute, but each surge was quickly answered by the Redhawks.

Midway through the half, Benedictine Mesa put the game out of reach with a decisive stretch. Blackwell continued his hot shooting, Zivak knocked down a three-pointer, and Dunn added a pair of baskets generated by second-chance opportunities. Malik Payton knocked down free throws to extend the lead beyond 20 points.

With control firmly established, Benedictine Mesa leaned on its depth in the closing minutes. Kaan Alaner and Aiden Olmstead added late buckets, and the Redhawks remained disciplined defensively to prevent any final rally.
Benedictine Mesa closed the night with a convincing 82–61 win, combining defensive pressure, efficient perimeter shooting, and balanced contributions across the lineup.

Key Players:

• Eric Blackwell: 21 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
• Isaiah Howard: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks
• Khari Dunn: 11 points, 7 rebounds

Looking Ahead: The Redhawks are back on the court as they take on OUAZ at home on Saturday, January 17^th.