LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Playing as close to home as he can get in the Midwest Conference, Lockport, Ill. native
Jake Mazrimas scored 34 points and nabbed 17 rebounds to lead the Illinois College men's basketball team to an 87-76 win at Lake Forest College on Friday night. The victory improves IC to 5-13 (3-8 MWC) on the year.
Illinois College played well in the first half and at one point led by as many as nine points, but a late surge from Lake Forest allowed the Foresters to go to halftime with a 40-39 advantage.
Beginning the second half, the Foresters scored the first three points to go up by four, but a couple minutes later Mazrimas hit a three-pointer to give IC a 47-46 lead and the Blueboys never trailed again.
Each time Lake Forest tried to get back in the game, Illinois College had an answer. A bucket from Aram Arslanian with 6:36 remaining brought the Foresters within five, 69-64. IC then had shots go down from Mazrimas,
Jaxson Dian and
Tre Rogers for a 6-0 run that gave the Blueboys their largest lead of 11.
One more Lake Forest run late brought the home team back within five at 77-72 with two minutes to go. The Blueboys were able to hold on by hitting their free throws, canning all 13 attempts they had in the second half, including 10 in the final 90 seconds.
Mazrimas scored 26 of his game-high 34 points in the second half to lead the Illinois College comeback.
Riley Mehrens added 14, Dian had 13 and
Hunter Ottensmeier scored 10.
The Blueboys return to the floor tomorrow afternoon for a 1 p.m. tip-off at Beloit College.
