JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – As it did in the opening round, the Illinois College men's basketball team rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit and beat 14th-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan, 66-57 to win the championship of the annual Bill Merris Invitational at Sherman Gymnasium on Saturday.
The victory moves IC to 4-0 on the season while Nebraska Wesleyan is 2-2.
IC 66 NWU 57
The Blueboys took an early lead in this one, leading by as much as eight on three occasions, the last coming at the 5:46 mark of the opening half (24-16) before the Prairie Wolves ripped off a 12-0 run to take a 30-24 lead with 1:43 remaining. Â Nebraska Wesleyan led 32-31 at halftime.
The Prairie Wolves continued to keep the pressure on in the early stages of the second half and pushed the advantage to 10 at 51-41 with 10:15 to play before the Blueboys made their run.
In the ensuing seven-plus minutes, IC went on an 18-2 spurt and never relinquished the lead. The nine-point margin of victory was the Blueboys' largest lead of the game.
Buzz Ritzel paced the IC attack with 18 points and seven rebounds while
Josh Harris added 16 points.
Javonte McKenzie had 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
Blue Notes
Harris and McKenzie were named to the Bill Merris Invitational All-Tournament team along with Carter Glen and Nick Howard from Nebraska Wesleyan, Cooper Matthews from Franklin, and Casey Verhagen from Concordia of Wisconsin… IC has won 36 of its last 41 games and 53 of the past 58… the Blueboys are 20-1 in their past 21 non-conference regular season games.Â
Up Next
The Blueboys are back at Sherman Gymnasium on Wednesday when they entertain Millikin. The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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