GALESBURG, Ill. - The Illinois College men's basketball team used a strong second-half showing to pull away from Knox College for an 84-55 win on the road. With the victory, the Blueboys move to 8-16 (6-11 Midwest Conference), while Knox remains winless in the MWC.
Kane Wildermuth kicked off the scoring for Illinois College, hitting a jumper to put the Blueboys up, 2-0. Justin Windt pulled Knox even with a bucket of his own on the following possession. The Prairie Fire would take its first lead of the game, 7-6, after a three-pointer from Jordan Rayner. Knox extended the lead to four, 17-13, its largest of the game, midway through the half.
Illinois College reclaimed the lead following two free throws from
Tim Parks and
Mason Speer hit a long two to put the Blueboys up by three points, 27-24. Rayner countered with a bucket of his own to pull Knox within one, 27-26, with just over four minutes left in the half. From there,
Riley Mehrens hit a shot that created a 9-0 run that saw IC extend its lead to 36-26. Ikenna Ozor hit a three at the end of the half for Knox, sending the game into the break with Illinois College up by seven, 36-29. Speer scored 12 of his 19 points in the half for IC.
The Blueboys got to work quickly in the second half, with Speer and Wildermuth scoring to put IC back up by 10, 39-29. Following a triple from Jaelon Brooks that brought Knox back within 10,
Trae Robinson III scored to ignite an 11-0 run that saw Illinois College take a commanding 56-35 advantage.
It was all downhill sledding from there for the Blueboys.
Sean McDonald put IC up by 29, 73-44, with five minutes left in the game. That lead was later increased to 30 by a
Hunter Stockton jumper.
Brandon Shaon put the icing on the cake with a make of his own to put IC up 32, 84-52.
Behind Speer's 19 points, Mehrens followed with 11 after hitting three triples. Parks went 4-of-4 from the free throw line. As a team, IC had 13 different players register points throughout the game.
The Blueboys wrap up the 2018-19 campaign on Saturday, when Lawrence University visits for the Senior Day matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
