CHICAGO - For a half, Benet played with one of the upper-echelon teams in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. And then two St. Patrick guards with Division I potential took over in a 66-51 victory on Friday night in Chicago.

Bryant Smith and Tim Traversa combined for 15 of St. Patrick's 17 third-quarter points, turning a two-point halftime lead into a 15-point advantage. All night Benet (6-12, 4-6) had trouble keeping those two senior guards in front of them. Smith finished with 30 points to lead St. Patrick (14-5, 8-2) while Traversa had 17, consistently break down his man off the dribble and finding an open teammate.

That ruined a homecoming of sorts for first-year Benet coach Gene Heidkamp, a former player and assistant at St. Patrick. Phil Hayes and Austin Wagner led the Redwings with 12 points apiece.