LISLE, Ill. - St. Norbert College nearly rallied from a 15-point deficit with 5 1/2 minutes remaining but eventually fell 78-73 to Benedictine University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at Rice Center.

The Green Knights trailed 66-51 with 5:33 remaining after a Benedictine 3-pointer, but St. Norbert mounted a furious last-ditch effort to get back into the game with a 14-2 run to get to within 68-65 with 2:04 left. Benedictine got a putback hoop with 1:34 to go back up five, but Aidan Harrington's conventional three-point play put St. Norbert within 70-68 with 1:20 left.

St. Norbert would stop Benedictine on the next possessions, but the Green Knights would turn it over with 27 seconds left. The Eagles made a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left, and Carter Gebler's 3-pointer with 16 seconds to go brought St. Norbert within 72-71 with 16 seconds left. Benedictine would score on its next three possessions to close out the win.

St. Norbert trailed by as much as 16 points in the first half before settling on a 34-21 halftime deficit. The Green Knights went on a 17-5 run to open the second half to get to within 39-38 with 15:13 left, but couldn't take the lead. Benedictine would eventually build its lead back to double digits at 60-49 with 8:03 remaining.

The Green Knights shot 37.1 percent (23-for-62) from the floor. Harrington posted a career-high 27 points, with 22 coming in the second half. Michael Payant added 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Benedictine shot 46.3 percent (25-for-54) from the floor. Trevor Montiel led the Eagles with 21 points.