The Culver-Stockton men's basketball team concluded the first semester of play with a come-from-behind 87-77 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over Benedictine College Tuesday night at Charles Field House.

For the second home game in a row the Wildcats allowed the visitors to get off to a fast start as the Ravens built an early 24-10 lead just seven minutes into the game. Benedictine made seven of its first 10 shots of the game and went 8-for-13 from the 3-point stripe overall in the first half.

C-SC regrouped after the initial run by the Ravens and went to the half trailing 44-38, the ninth time in 13 games the Wildcats have trailed at the intermission.

In the second half, the Wildcats were the ones who started fast, outscoring Benedictine 20-3 in the first seven minutes of the half to take a 58-47 advantage.

C-SC shot a blistering 57 percent (16-28) from the field in the second half, including seven of 10 from the 3-point line. By contrast the Ravens struggled from the long distance stripe in the second 20 minutes, making just two of their 15 attempts. The Wildcats finished shooting 52.5 percent overall, just the second time all season they have eclipsed the 50 percent mark.

Connor Davis and Ryan Stevenson each hit the 20-point plateau to lead the Wildcats in scoring. Davis netted 14 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, while Stevenson dropped 13 of his 20 points after the break.

Roee Dinnar and Martez Rhodes came off the bench to score and 13 and 11 points, respectively, leading to a 26-23 advantage in bench points. 

The Wildcats held a 35-32 edge in rebounds with Davis pulling down eight caroms lead C-SC. Alex Jackson added seven rebounds. 

Tai Walters-Whitaker dished out seven assists with Davis and Keashon Petty garnering four helpers each. Petty also got the job defensively with a team-high three steals.

The Wildcats are scheduled to play an exhibition game at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo., Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. C-SC returns to regular season play on Thursday, Jan. 2, at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. That game is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.