ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — With momentum of a 2–0 start, the College of Saint Benedict basketball team returns to Claire Lynch Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to take on UW–Eau Claire (1–1). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Bennies opened the year in style, sweeping their own Tipoff Tournament this past weekend with wins over Minnesota Morris (91–57) and Bethany Lutheran (51–50). Through two games, CSB is averaging 71.0 points while holding opponents to 53.5. The team is shooting 40% from the field and 30% from three-point range — and has knocked in 81 percent of its free throws. Despite being slightly out-rebounded (40–34 per game), the Bennies have forced an impressive 26 turnovers per game, turning those into 23 points off turnovers.

Buslee named MVP as CSB wins Tipoff Tourney
Junior guard Drew Buslee earned MVP honors at the CSB Tipoff Tournament and leads the Bennies with 16.0 points per game, plus 2.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. Sophomore Lauren Arnold adds 12.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, while senior guard Megan Morgan (10.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and senior forward Kira Young (9.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg) round out a balanced scoring attack.

Buslee dropped 22 points in the Bennies' 91–57 win over Minnesota Morris — CSB's first 90-point performance since 2019. Arnold helped close out a 51–50 win over Bethany Lutheran with 13 points, three rebounds, and three steals, as CSB rallied late. In the win over Bethany Lutheran, Young had 12 points and six rebounds.

What's Next
After Wednesday's matchup, the Bennies head to Mount Vernon, Iowa, for the Cornell Classic (Nov. 15–16). CSB faces the University of Dubuque on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Nebraska Wesleyan on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Conference play begins Nov. 19 at St. Olaf, followed by a Thanksgiving trip to the Colorado College Classic (Nov. 28–29). The Bennies return home Dec. 6 for their MIAC home opener against Concordia — the same team they upset in last year's postseason.

Scouting UW–Eau Claire
UW–Eau Claire enters Wednesday's contest at 1–1 under 26th-year head coach Tonja Englund. The Blugolds opened their season with an 83–52 win over Lakeland University before falling, 78–73, in their Tipoff Tournament finale. Kyla Overskei leads the team with 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while Reanna Hutchinson adds 13.0 points and Olivia Witkowski contributes 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds. Eau Claire shoots 37.6% from the field and 35.1% from beyond the arc while holding a slim 44.5–43.0 rebounding edge over opponents.

Series History
The Blugolds lead the all-time series 5–4, but CSB has split the four meetings in St. Joseph (2–2). In their last matchup, the Bennies stormed back with a 24–13 fourth quarter run to earn a 69–63 victory. The two teams first met in 1989, when Eau Claire won, 66–59.

Durbin leads CSB Basketball
Coach Mike Durbin, now in his 41st overall season (40th at CSB), continues to climb the NCAA record books. He enters the year with a 764–272 record at Saint Benedict and a 768–294 overall mark, ranking third all-time in Division III wins and 15th among active NCAA coaches across all divisions. Durbin has guided 76 All-MIAC First Team selections, 55 honorable mentions, and 15 All-Defensive Team honorees. His 594 conference victories are the most by any active coach in MIAC history.