By: Lawrence shot 62 percent from the floor in the first half and ended the game with 14 three-pointers.
Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – A 9-0 run by Lawrence University to start the game put the Vikings ahead for good as the Illinois College men's basketball team had no answer for the hot-shooting visitors. Lawrence would knock down 62 percent of its field goals in the first half and end the game with 14 made three-pointers to down the Blueboys, 89-57, inside Sherman Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, Illinois College drops to 1-4 (0-2 Midwest Conference).
An experience squad with big aspirations in the MWC this season, Lawrence showed what it was capable of right from the opening tip. Andrew Borresen opened the scoring with a short jumper as part of the 9-0 start by the Vikings. They were helped along by two Illinois College turnovers on inbounds passes that led to breakaway layups for guards Jamie Nikitas and Ryan DePouw.
Brandon Fishburn ended the run with a jump shot, but that was followed by another 7-0 run by Lawrence to open up a 16-2 advantage after just five minutes.
Somehow, the Blueboys were able to find their footing and work their way back into the game for awhile.
Cody Hildebrand came off the bench and hit his first look to end the Lawrence run.
Mitchell Patterson then got in on the act, accounting for six of the next eight IC points as the Blueboys were able to chip away to within six, 20-14, with 11:50 remaining in the opening half.
Right when it seemed that Illinois College was right back in it, Lawrence caught fire from behind the arc. The Vikings hit three treys on their next three possessions to balloon the lead out to 29-14.
Brendan Barlow stopped the run with a triple of his own, but LU hit two more from distance in the 90 seconds that followed to make it a 35-17 game with less than eight minutes to go until the break. With their offense ticking like clockwork, the Vikings ran their lead to as much as 26 before going into the half with a 53-29 edge.
To add insult to injury, the first three baskets made by Lawrence in the second half were from behind the arc, giving the Vikings a 62-30 lead. The margin would grow to 42 before Lawrence made wholesale substitutions late in the game.
Patterson scored a team-high 13 points and had five rebounds and three steals for Illinois College. Hildebrand added 12 points and
David Bauer 11 points off the bench. DePouw led all scorers with 19 for Lawrence, while Nikitas had 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Illinois College will go for its first MWC win of the year on Tuesday night when it travels to Galesburg, Ill. to face Knox. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's contest.
