BELOIT, Wis. – The Illinois College men's basketball team made a late run at Beloit College, but was unable to claw all the way back in a 73-70 loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday afternoon. The Buccaneers made five free throws in the final 34 seconds to hold off a late IC comeback attempt. The Blueboys drop to 5-14 (3-9 Midwest Conference) on the season.
A tightly-contested first half ended with Beloit holding a 35-32 lead at the break. The game was tied six times in the first 20 minutes.
Mikey Adams gave Illinois College a 32-31 lead with 2:45 remaining, but the Buccaneers held the Blueboys scoreless the remainder of the half to surge into the lead.
Trae Robinson III would tie the game back up twice early in the second half, the last time at 37-37 with 18:10 to play. Beloit answered that with a 7-0 run and wouldn't trail again despite being threatened by Illinois College throughout.
After the Buccaneers took their largest lead of the day at 44-37, the Blueboys pulled within two points on six occasions. The closest the game came was at 63-62 when
Hunter Ottensmeier canned a triple with 3:30 left. Beloit put the game away by hitting five of their six free throw attempts in the final 34 seconds.
Robinson III and
Tre Rogers tied for team-high scoring honors with 16.
Jake Mazrimas had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Blueboys wrap up a four-game road trip with a game at Knox College on Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m.
