Benedictine University Mesa's Men's Basketball team has advanced to the NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament Round of 16 after two impressive victories. They first edged out No. 9 Southwestern College with a thrilling 61鈥�58 win, marked by a last-second three-pointer from Malik Payton. In a stunning upset, they then defeated the No. 1 seed, Nelson University, with a 99鈥�94 score led by Damian Zivak's 30-point effort. The Redhawks are set to face No. 12 Faulkner University in Kansas City, marking their first meeting.

By the Numbers
  • Benedictine Mesa has a record of 26鈥�6.
  • Faulkner University holds a record of 22鈥�9.
Yes, But

While Benedictine has created a strong postseason narrative, Faulkner's balanced attack with their leading scorers, KL Rogers and Jordyn Turner-Durley, could challenge their momentum.

State of Play
  • Benedictine Mesa is on a roll, having upset the top seed in their previous game.
  • Faulkner has solid offensive stats, with Rogers averaging 15.6 points and Turner-Durley close behind.
What's Next

The winner of the matchup will secure a spot in the quarterfinals, facing either No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan or No. 3 Hope International, intensifying the stakes for both teams.

Bottom Line

Benedictine Mesa's journey reflects their resilience and competitive edge in the tournament; however, they will need to contain Faulkner's offensive threats to advance further.