LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Illinois College men's basketball team gave Lake Forest College everything it could handle for one half on Saturday afternoon, but the Foresters had four runs of 8-0 or more in the second half to sweep past the Blueboys, 96-66. IC falls to 7-16 (5-11 Midwest Conference), while Lake Forest clinches a spot in the MWC Tournament, improving to 16-7 (12-4 MWC).
With
Tim Parks supplying Illinois College with a team-high seven points in the first half, the Blueboys went to the break tied with Lake Forest at 33-33. IC was down double-figures midway through the opening half, but stormed back to take a lead, 31-30, on a
Sean McDonald three-pointer.
Kane Wildermuth extended it to a three-point cushion before the Foresters came back to tie it up.
The final tie of the game came at 35-35 in the opening minute of the second half. From there, Lake Forest scored eight straight. After Parks hit a three to cut it to four, 46-42, the Foresters scored another 12 unanswered. Two more similar runs pushed the lead even higher and Lake Forest would go on to lead by as much as 35 points before IC cut into it late.
Isaac Collins scored 14 points to lead the Blueboys in scoring on the day.
Mason Speer had 11 points and five assists, while Parks ended with 10 points.
Illinois College heads to Knox College on Feb. 13 for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off with the Prairie Fire.
