East Peoria, Ill. - On Thursday night, the Illinois Central College men's basketball team (14-8 Overall, 5-3 Region 24, 3-3 MWAC) hosted a Black Hawk Braves (11-13 Overall) squad that would serve as a quality, but brief break from non-region play. After a wildly competitive first half, the Cougars powered ahead after the break, swelling the lead to north of 20 points, eventually cruising to a 88-71 victory over the Braves. 

Whether it would truly be an indicator of how the rest of the game would pan out, but Black Hawk would knock down a corner three on the game's first possession. It would be the first of two treys that got the Braves off to a 6-0 start before Amariyae Wilson hit a tightly contested fadeaway jumper at the 17:44 mark to get the Cougar offense going. Alas, Black Hawk knocking down another from distance and ICC turning it over on the other end, it had coach Tony Wysinger call his first timeout of the game, down 9-2 just under three minutes in. 

Just when it seemed like the Braves were about to run away with the game, the Cougars clawed back. Tony Mabon Jr. found Cameron Weed along the baseline to cut the Black Hawk lead to 14-12 with 11:53 until the half. Azarion Richardson found himself open from the key for a three-pointer, and just like that, ICC had a lead at 15-14. 

Payton Cook fed a short handoff pass to Israel Barnett, who hit a three from the left wing for a 22-21 lead with 6:56 to go in the first half. With still 26:56 of play still left, that would become the last lead change ICC needed, and frankly, just scratching the surface of a terrific night for Barnett. LaColis Ashby Jr. found an open Mabon from the point for a knockdown trey and a seemingly elusive two-possession lead (31-25) for the Cougars with just 1:35 until halftime. That would be the start of a 9-2 run to close the opening 20 minutes and give ICC a 37-27 lead at halftime.

One could say the momentum didn't exactly come at a great time for the Cougars. Despite the halftime break, though, ICC's offense may have been even better. The Cougars stormed out to the tune of a 12-2 run (capped by a Mabon step-through) for a 49-29 lead at the 15:54 mark, forcing a Black Hawk timeout. The Braves were able to use the timeout wisely, getting their first successful field goal try after 4:17 of play. Cook was the enforcer inside to get another 20-point lead at 51-31. 

ICC did accumulate enough fouls to reach the bonus around the midsection of the half, but the lead was already too much. Barnett hit a three right in front of the Cougar bench, hyping up the bench and crowd afterwards, he'd just given ICC a 72-49 lead in what would become garbage time. Black Hawk wasn't going down without a fight, outscoring the Cougars 22-16 the rest of the way, but the ICC offense had done its job, securing the 17-point victory.

Up next is what should be an exciting one, as the Cougars have 'round two' with Danville Area, a team that ICC was able to get a three-point road win against. The Jaguars did get a tough road win over nationally-ranked Parkland right after, and are (4-2) since that win in Champaign. 

COUGAR STATISTICS
Israel Barnett | 22 points, 2 rebounds
Tony Mabon Jr. | 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Payton Cook | 12 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists
Azarion Richardson | 11 points, 2 rebounds
Amariyae Wilson | 10 points, 3 rebounds
Cameron Weed | 6 points
LaColis Ashby Jr. | 4 points, 8 rebounds
Isaiah Donnell | 2 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Ayden Grant | 2 points, 2 rebounds
Damuzha Moore | 2 points, 2 rebounds
Cody Marcinko | 2 points

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
vs. Danville Area Jaguars (13-8 Overall, 5-3 Region 24, 4-1 MWAC)
@ Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Ill.
Saturday, January 10th - 3:00 PM Tipoff
Watch Live (YouTube)