GLENDALE, Ariz. — Fourth-seeded Benedictine Mesa delivered a postseason upset Friday night, knocking off top-seeded Arizona Christian 68-65 in the GSAC Men’s Basketball Semifinals at the ACU Events Center to advance to the conference championship game.
In a tightly contested battle that featured 10 ties and 11 lead changes, neither team was able to create separation until the closing minutes, as Benedictine Mesa relied on defensive execution and late free throws to secure the victory.
The semifinal opened with both teams trading momentum throughout the first half. Benedictine Mesa found early success attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line, while Arizona Christian countered behind strong rebounding and timely scoring from its bench unit. The evenly played opening period ended appropriately tied at 30-30 heading into halftime.
The back-and-forth nature continued after the break, with each side answering runs and the lead frequently changing hands. Benedictine Mesa gradually began to gain traction midway through the second half behind defensive stops and balanced scoring across the lineup.
Isaiah Howard and Khari Dunn helped steady the Redhawks during key possessions, turning defensive pressure into transition opportunities. A critical stretch allowed Benedictine Mesa to build a six-point advantage with just over six minutes remaining — matching the largest lead of the game.
Arizona Christian refused to fade, trimming the deficit multiple times in the final minutes. The Firestorm cut the margin to a single possession late and continued to apply pressure defensively, but Benedictine Mesa maintained composure at the free-throw line and came up with stops when needed most.
Eric Blackwell led Benedictine Mesa with 14 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the line, while Howard and Dunn each added 13 points in a balanced offensive effort. The Redhawks’ ability to convert at the stripe proved decisive, finishing 26-of-35 on free throws in the three-point victory.
Arizona Christian was paced by Shaud Bradley’s 16 points off the bench, with Ese Onakpoma contributing 13 points and seven rebounds. Despite matching Benedictine Mesa with 38 rebounds, the Firestorm struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm, shooting 32.8 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc.
With the win, Benedictine Mesa advances to the GSAC Men’s Basketball Championship, where the fourth-seeded Redhawks will face No. 3 seed The Master’s on Monday in Santa Clarita, Calif., with the conference title and an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament at stake.
Arizona Christian, the tournament’s top seed, now awaits the NAIA Selection Show to learn its fate for the upcoming NAIA National Championship.