By: David Bauer led five Blueboys in double-figures with 20 points on the night, advancing IC to the championship game of the Bill Merris Tournament.
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. -
David Bauer hit five free throws in overtime, sealing the Illinois College men's basketball team's win in the season opener, 85-82, over Principia College. The Blueboys advance to the championship game of the Bill Merris Tournament for the second straight year.
Max Stutsman got the ball rolling early, scoring the first two points of the game one minute in. Two more baskets by Stutsman capped off a 6-0 Illinois College run later on, seeing the Blueboy lead increase to 11-4. The Panthers would slowly chip away at IC's lead, finally breaking through when Parker Davidson's layup gave Principia its first lead of the game, 20-19, halfway through the first half. The latter part of the half saw the lead switch hands multiple times, with the visitors ultimately able to take a 41-40 lead into the half.
Five minutes into the second half, Parker Davidson sank a three-pointer, bumping the Panthers' lead to six, 53-47. After Brady Hays brought the deficit back down to four for IC, Ross pushed the lead back to six with a bucket of his own. Following that, the Blueboys began to swing the momentum their way, taking the lead on a
David Bauer three-pointer halfway through the second half. Bauer was able to extend IC's lead to six, 72-66, with four minutes left. Principia then constructed its own run, with Trevaughn Goodman tying the game at 75-75 with 13 seconds left.
Mason Speer missed a corner three at the buzzer, sending the game to an extra session.
In the extra frame, Principia's foul trouble led to two of the Panthers' starters fouling out. The Blueboys made the most of their trips to the charity stripe, hitting 7-of-8 free throws in overtime. Down 85-82, Principia had a chance at a last-second shot to tie the game. Davidson's half-court heave sailed long, securing the win for IC.
Bauer finished with a team-high 20 points.
Sean McDonald finished with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. Speer scored 17 in the game, while Hays had 13 points in his collegiate debut. Stutsman added 10 points and eight rebounds, and Isaac Collins added six points on two first half three-pointers. For Principia, Goodman led the way with 26 points. Davidson had a double-double of his own, scoring 15 points and pulling down 14 rebounds.
Illinois College plays Dominican University (Ill.) in the championship game tomorrow at Sherman Gymnasium. Tip is set for 4 p.m. In the third-place game, Principia will square off against the University of the Ozarks at 2 p.m.
