Quincy, Ill. - The Illinois Central College men's basketball team (18-11 Overall, 9-5 Region 24, 6-5 MWAC) made the trip west to take on the John Wood Blazers (17-12 Overall, 9-5 Region 24, 8-5 MWAC) in the regular season finale. A close half turned into a second half surge, and eventually a 74-59 win for John Wood over ICC on Saturday. 

The teams would effectively trade buckets in the first half, although slightly lower-scoring in nature, with John Wood taking a slim 25-23 lead into the locker rooms. 

It would be the start of the second half that ultimately decided the game. The Blazers raced out to a 9-0 run, which became a 13-1 run within the first five minutes of play and a 38-24 lead. That lead would swell to as much as 21 points, and the gap would be just enough. 

Granted, the Cougar offense did make a push at the end, cutting the deficit to 11 points at 70-59 with 1:25 left, but that would be the closest they got. 

COUGAR STATISTICS
LaColis Ashby Jr. | 15 points, 6 rebounds
Damuzha Moore | 12 points
Isaiah Donnell | 11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Payton Cook | 8 points, 5 rebounds
Azarion Richardson | 5 points, 3 rebounds
Jeremiah Tate | 4 points
Amariyae Wilson | 2 points, 3 assists
Cameron Weed | 2 points, 3 rebounds

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2024 Region Tournament Quarterfinal
vs. #7 Spoon River Snappers (7-21)
Wednesday, March 6th - Tipoff Time TBA
Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Ill.
Watch Live (YouTube)

REGION 24 QUARTERFINALS (@ Campus Sites)
#8 Lewis & Clark @ #1 Parkland
#5 Lincoln Land @ #4 Danville Area
#7 Spoon River @ #2 Illinois Central
#6 Rend Lake @ #3 John Wood