By: IC connected on 13 three-pointers on the night, including nine in the opening 20 minutes, to help defeat the Red Lions, 95-85.
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. -
Sean McDonald scored a career-high 19 points, helping the Illinois College Blueboys capture a 95-85 non-conference win over visiting Lincoln Christian University. IC improves to 4-3 on the season. LCU falls to 4-10.
Zach Thompson of the Red Lions started the scoring for the contest, working the post for a layup only 30 seconds into the game. Brady Hays would put the Blueboys up, 3-2, after draining a three assisted by
Tim Parks. LCU would reclaim the lead after a Thompson three-pointer as well as two free throws from the junior.
Mason Speer helped put Illinois College back on top, 8-7, after a layup with five minutes gone in the half. After Garrett Aeilts sank a three to give Lincoln Christian a 10-8 lead, Hays hit his second triple to put IC back up, 11-10, with fourteen minutes left, a lead it would not relinquish. Walker Hartman would tie the game at 14-14 with a three of his own, but that's as close as the Red Lions would come the rest of the game.
Freshman Isaac Collins came off the bench with authority for Illinois College. He hit back-to-back three-pointers to help the Blueboys take a 13-point lead, 39-26, with five minutes left in the first half. Parks hit five free throws inside the last two minutes of the half, which would cap the first 20 minutes with IC leading LCU by a score of 51-39. As a team, the Blueboys hit nine three-pointers in the first half. Parks led the way for IC, scoring 13 while also recording four assists. Hays finished the half with 12 points, and Speer chipping in ten.
Thompson kicked off the scoring again in the second half, hitting a jumper to pull Lincoln Christian within 10, 51-41. Hays was the first scorer for IC, with his shot giving the Blueboys a 53-41 advantage.
Max Stutsman extended the Illinois College lead, 60-45, by hitting a three with 16 minutes remaining. Brode Hopkins kick-started a 7-0 run for the Red Lions, which was capped off by a Thompson three, shrinking the deficit to 60-52. IC concocted its own 7-0 run following that to go up, 67-52, following a McDonald triple. Collins' third three-pointer of the game gave IC a 17-point lead, 74-57, midway through the second half.
McDonald boosted the Illinois College lead to 22 points with a layup, 86-64, which capped off a 9-0 Blueboys run with six minutes remaining in the game. Thompson scored all 12 points in a 12-4 run for the Red Lions, seeing the IC lead dip to 14 points, 90-76, with three minutes left. Overall, Thompson scored an astounding 17 straight points for the Red Lions. Aeilts brought the game down to ten points, 92-82, after hitting a three with just under 50 seconds to go in the game. Thompson hit another three to pull within eight, 93-85, with 21 seconds on the clock.
David Bauer would ice the game, however, by hitting two free throws to put IC back up by ten, 95-85, which would bring the game to a close.
Thompson finished with a game-high 34 points. Aeilts contributed 18, and Lawhorn finished with 16 for the Red Lions, also pulling down eight rebounds. For Illinois College, five different Blueboys finished in double-figures, with McDonald leading the way. Hays finished with 16 and also had nine rebounds. Parks ended with 15 points on the night, while Speer and Collins each contributed 12 points apiece.
Illinois College is off for the rest of the week. The Blueboys take the court again on Dec. 18, when Monmouth College visits for Midwest Conference action. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
