East Peoria, Ill. - What started as a highly competitive first half from the Illinois Central College men's basketball team (14-9 Overall, 5-4 Region 24, 3-4 MWAC) became a different second half, as the visiting Danville Area Jaguars (14-8 Overall, 6-3 Region 24, 5-1 MWAC) eventually pulled away, on their way to a 76-60 victory over the Cougars on Saturday afternoon at Ramsey Gym. 

In seemingly a more common occurrence than it probably should be, the game started with ICC (Tony Mabon Jr., specifically) knocking down a free throw before tipoff by way of a pregame technical foul on the Jaguars - which is not the first time that has happened at Ramsey Gym this season. Amariyae Wilson lobbed it up for LaColis Ashby Jr. all of 1:12 into the game for a dunk and a 3-2 lead. That was just the start, as the teams seemingly traded buckets. Willie Fragher found Payton Cook inside for a 17-8 lead at the 12:22 mark, forcing the Jaguars to use their first timeout of the game. 

Meanwhile, the Cougars were forced to call a timeout of their own to prevent a turnover, with Danville Area having clawed back to within a 25-17 score with 7:27 until the break. Yet with all of that, the Cougars kept fighting to try and expand the lead to the best of their abilities. Ashby knocked down back-to-back treys to put ICC up 30-20 and 33-22 respectively, keeping the Cougars up 10+ points for the time being. Danville Area went on a bit of a run (15-4) to pull all the way back into a 37-37 tie just before half. 

After the Jaguars hit a free throw to go ahead 38-37, Ashby hit a jumper from the right elbow to put the Cougars ahead 39-38 headed into the locker rooms. 

Danville Area, to perhaps even the lightest of basketball eyes, made the halftime adjustments they needed to. The Jaguars pushed ahead on a 13-6 run to start second half play, going up 51-45 at around the 12:30 mark. The ICC offense was far from done, however. Mabon muscled his way into the hoop from the left wing for a bucket to get within four points and force a Danville timeout.

Alas, just as quickly as the Cougars had fought their way back into the game, it slipped from their collective grasp, with the Jaguars knocking down a pair of free throws with 7:49 left to go up 59-49. ICC would get a goaltending call in their favor to get within 62-56 with 5:28 to go, but a lockdown 14-4 run from Danville Area the rest of the way secured the aforementioned 16-point victory. 

COUGAR STATISTICS
LaColis Ashby Jr. | 21 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
Tony Mabon Jr. | 21 points, 2 rebounds
Isaiah Donnell | 8 points, 2 rebounds
Payton Cook | 4 points, 6 rebounds
Amariyae Wilson | 2 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Azarion Richardson | 2 points, 4 rebounds
Cody Marcinko | 2 points
Israel Barnett | 2 rebounds

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ D1 Southeastern Iowa Blackhawks (15-8 Overall)
Wednesday, February 14th - 7:00 PM
Loren Walker Arena - West Burlington, IA
Watch Live (ICCAC Sports Network)
**Wednesday is Southeastern Iowa's Pink Out game. They are raising funds for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice Center. Details at THIS LINK.**