By: An 11-point lead dwindled to two points late in the contest before the Blueboys held on for the 90-87 win.
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College men's basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season with a 90-87 win over the University of Dallas on Sunday afternoon. Five players scored in double-figures for the Blueboys, including a 23-point day from
Max Stutsman. The Crusaders nearly pulled off the comeback, cutting an 11-point deficit to two, before the Blueboys held on.
The game started with a 6-0 run for Dallas before
Sean McDonald countered with five straight and
Mason Speer connected on a three to give Illinois College the 8-6 lead. Dallas came right back with a 7-0 run capped by a Darrius Colvin three-pointer and then went ahead, 17-11, on a Ben Norton jumper.
In a game that had nine ties and 25 lead changes, the responses always came quickly.
Tim Parks scored on consecutive trips down the floor before Brady Hays tied the game at 17-17 with a long two-pointer. In a 20-minute span of action from Parks' second layup until less than 12 minutes remained in the game, neither team would manage to hold a lead of larger than three points. A Michael Wambsganss triple in the final seconds of the half gave the Crusaders a 43-41 lead at the break.
After Stutsman forced a tie-up on the first possession of the second half,
Mason Speer assisted
David Bauer on a corner three to give the lead back to Illinois College at 44-43. A no-look feed from Speer to
Sean McDonald made it 52-51 and Stutsman extended the margin to 54-51 on a post move.
The Crusaders came right back with a 6-0 run capped by a Darrius Colvin layup to make it 57-54. Stutsman trimmed the deficit back to one and Parks connected on a pair at the line, giving the Blueboys the lead for good at 58-57.
When Hays hit his second straight three-pointer at the 11:20 mark of the second half, Illinois College finally was able to grab a lead of more than three points, going on top, 64-60. A Bauer shot from long distance upped the advantage to 69-62 and Parks later added an and-one with exactly eight minutes remaining, making the free throw for a 72-64 lead.
The University of Dallas worked its way back into the game and was within three points at 76-73 when Parks fought through contact for another and-one, as well as a technical foul on the Crusaders. Speer made both foul shots and with one trip down the floor, the Blueboys were able to stretch the cushion back to eight points at 81-73.
The lead reached double-digits at 88-77 on two free throws from Hays with 2:37 to play, but Dallas had one last push in them, going on a quick 6-0 run to make it 88-83 with less than 90 seconds remaining. After Stutsman made one of two at the line, John Russell converted a three-point play to make it 89-86 with 1:11 left.
The score wouldn't move for more than a minute as both defenses held serve. The Blueboys turned the ball back over to the Crusaders on a shot-clock violation with 9.2 seconds left. Hays then fouled Wambsganss with 2.3 seconds on the clock, not allowing the marksman a chance to tie the game from downtown. Wambsganss made the first of two free throws before missing the second on purpose. Stutsman hauled the rebound in among a tangle of arms before being fouled. He again hit one of two, upping the Illinois College to 90-87. Dallas' last-gasp inbounds pass was touched by Speer to start the clock and end the game.
Stutsman ended with a game-high 23 points. McDonald added 17, while Hays and Parks chipped in with 14 points apiece.
Illinois College opens up Midwest Conference play on Dec. 1 with a road trip to Wisconsin. The Blueboys start the weekend at Lawrence University in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
