JACKSONVILLE, Ill.- The Illinois College Blueboys were able to pick up their first win of the season over Cornell College in their home opener with a final score of 85-79.
Jake Mazrimas led the team with 20 points and eight rebounds on the night. Other double figure scorers included
Troy Burrows with 19, and
Hunter Ottensmeier finishing the game with 13.
The game would prove to be an interesting contest with both teams trading the lead multiple times. The score would stand tied at 37 after a made layup by Cornell's Trevor Boge with 1:52 left in the first half. The Rams would put together a 7-2 run in the final minutes to stand ahead 44-39 going into halftime.
The second half remained a close contest with the Rams controlling the lead for the first ten minutes. Illinois College would jump ahead after a made jump shot by
Benton Singleton to make the score 63-62 with just 8:51 left in the game.
Both teams stood tied at 76 in the final minutes after a made free throw by Burrows. Mazrimas was able to hit a huge three-point jump shot and a layup on consecutive plays to push the Blueboys ahead by four with just 25 seconds remaining.
The Blueboys would seal the win down the stretch with some clutch free throw shooting by
Henry Hayer and Ottensmeier.
The Blueboys had a productive night shooting the ball finishing the game with a 49.2 field goal percentage. They were also able to out-rebound the Rams 34-32.
Illinois College will hit the road in their next contest to take on the Fontbonne University Griffins on Wednesday, 2/17 at 7:00 PM.
