Quincy, Ill. - The ICC men's basketball team (7-13, 0-5) had an intriguing road challenge in front of them on Saturday afternoon, traveling to Mountain Dew Court to take on the John Wood Blazers (12-11, 2-3). The hosts got off to a controlling start, able to break the 40-point mark in the first half. Alas, a valiant comeback for the Cougars, who trailed by 18 at one point. With all of 10 seconds remaining in the second half,
Kyle Belgrave II finished a three-point play to tie the game and that would eventually send the game to overtime, where ICC was out-scored by a slim 19-14 margin for a 94-89 John Wood win.
The Blazers came out shooting red hot in the opening 20 minutes, by way of shooting at a 58% clip from the field (18-31). Neither team went to the perimeter often, with ICC 0-4 and John Wood 3-12 at halftime. The aforementioned 40-point effort from the Blazers put them up 41-25 at the break.
ICC came out of the locker room recharged and ready to go. The Cougars, while approaching a 20-point spread, never wavered. Coach Tony Wysinger's crew would make a 15% jump in field goal percentage in the second half, pouring it on with a 50-point second half. Aiding that offensive spurt was John Wood conversely having dropped their field goal percentage by a similar mark. After the three-point play to force OT, it was tied 75-75.
Despite the Cougars' effort to force OT, it would take another comeback-type effort to get back within single digits. In the first 2:18 of the extra period, John Wood had made all its field goals - none made the rest of the game. That opened the door for ICC, but it would not be enough in a five-point OT setback.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Kyle Belgrave II | 26 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Courtland Soll | 24 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
Lavell McIntosh | 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
LaColis Ashby Jr. | 9 points, 5 blocks, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
vs. Bryant & Stratton Bobcats (21-5)
Wednesday, February 8th - 7:30 PM
@ Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Ill.
WATCH LIVE (YouTube)
*Bobcats are on a five-game win streak, but all five losses have come in true road games.
