Champaign, Ill. - It's not quite entirely easy to win in Champaign. That's what ICC men's basketball (10-18, 2-7) was tasked with on Wednesday night, taking on the Parkland Cobras (15-12, 5-5). After a closely competitive first half, the Cobras used a 47-point second half output to pull away and secure an 84-68 win over the Cougars. 

ICC took an early 9-8 lead on a LaColis Ashby Jr. layup at the 16:08 mark, and it looked like at that point, particularly as the half progressed, that ICC would hold on to that lead. The Cougar lead expanded to as much as 22-15 when Amariyae Wilson found Jeremiah Welch for a layup around the midway mark of the opening 20 minutes.

From there, however, Parkland went on a 10-3 run, hitting a trey at the 7:02 mark of the first half to tie the game at 25. Ultimately, just like ICC's spurt, Parkland would use their having tied the game to maintain momentum, holding on to a 37-31 lead at the break. 

The Cobras also responded well out of the locker room, going on an 8-0 run, capped by a three-ball at the 18:04 mark, extending their lead to 45-31. The Cougars, meanwhile, got no closer than 13 points, with Parkland pulling away to a 21-point lead on a pair of free throws with 10:17 left. 

There was one last push in the Cougars, though. A Keaundre Cooper jumper with 4:56 to go pulled the Cougars within 69-61. A pair of free throws from Lavell McIntosh made it 70-64 with 3:44 to go. Alas, just 22 seconds later, the Cobras would go back up double figures and it would stay that way this time. 

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Courtland Soll | 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
LaColis Ashby Jr. | 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks
Lavell McIntosh | 10 points, 6 rebounds
Keaundre Cooper | 10 points, 2 rebounds

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Sophomore Day & Hall of Fame Day
vs. John Wood Blazers (15-14, 3-6)
Saturday, March 4th - 3:00 PM
@ Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Ill.
WATCH LIVE (YouTube)