CANTON, Mo. (Interstat) — The Benedictine Ravens used a blistering offensive performance and a double-double from Brycen LaRue to secure an 82-72 road victory over the Culver-Stockton Wildcats in a men’s NAIA basketball game on Saturday.

In a contest that featured little defense in the opening period, Benedictine’s efficiency from the field proved to be the difference. The Ravens shot a scorching 55.8 percent, connecting on 29 of 52 attempts, and were even more lethal from beyond the arc, making 12 of 20 three-pointers for a 60 percent success rate.

Benedictine’s offense was a model of efficiency, scoring 82 points on just 64 possessions for an offensive rating of 128.0. Culver-Stockton, by comparison, managed 72 points on 67 possessions for a rating of 108.1.

The game opened at a frantic pace, with both teams trading baskets. After Culver-Stockton’s Damar Jenkins hit a three-pointer to bring the Wildcats within three points early, Benedictine responded with a 12-2 run, capped by back-to-back three-pointers from LaRue, to force a Wildcats timeout. The Ravens maintained their hot shooting throughout the quarter, taking a 44-37 lead into the second period.

The second quarter saw Benedictine continue to apply pressure. Jack Vander Woude was instrumental in stretching the lead, hitting multiple three-pointers to keep the Wildcats at arm’s length. Culver-Stockton, led by Jenkins and Kamren Wires, made several pushes to cut into the deficit but could never overtake the visitors. The Ravens closed the game with a series of free throws to seal the 10-point win.

LaRue led all Benedictine scorers with 19 points and completed a double-double by pulling down 10 rebounds. Vander Woude poured in a game-high 21 points, fueled by his sharp three-point shooting. Deaglan Sullivan facilitated the offense with a game-high eight assists to go with his 10 points, while Drew Purdy provided a strong interior presence with 12 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots.

For Culver-Stockton, Jenkins led the way with 18 points. Alex Jackson IV recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, also dishing out four assists. Travis Green III and Wires each added 12 points in the losing effort.

Defensively, Benedictine protected the rim effectively, recording seven total blocks. Both teams took care of the ball, with Benedictine committing eight turnovers and Culver-Stockton giving it away seven times.

With the win, Benedictine improves its season record to 2-3, while Culver-Stockton falls to 2-6. The Ravens are scheduled to travel to face Missouri Valley on Tuesday. The Wildcats will host Central Methodist on the same night.