East Peoria, Ill. - There was a nervous energy inside the confines of Ramsey Gym on Wednesday night, as the Illinois Central College men's basketball team (19-11) went to battle against the Spoon River Snappers (7-22) in the Region 24 Tournament Quarterfinal. The excitement of postseason basketball coupled with a potential loss sending you home for the season. Well, despite nearly trailing by double figures at halftime, the Cougars powered ahead in the second half and the fans went home happy, as ICC took a 70-64 Region Quarterfinal win over the Snappers to conclude that season series with a (2-1) ICC edge. 

Neither team got off to a blazing offensive start, with there being 17 combined points (10-7 ICC) at the 14:17 mark of the first half. It wasn't until Tony Mabon Jr. hit a runner in the lane that either team held a multiple-possession lead, with Mabon's shot putting ICC up 13-9. After Azarion Richardson found Israel Bennett inside for a 15-9 lead, and the Snappers committed an over-and-back violation on the ensuing possession, Spoon River would call time to regroup. A toughly contested baseline floater for Mabon gave ICC it's largest lead of the game at the time at 21-14. From there, though, Spoon River found a groove. A couple of three-pointers were part of an 11-2 run to storm back and take a 25-23 lead. An Isaiah Donnell rebound off a missed trey was perfect timing for a cutting LaColis Ashby Jr., and Ashby's layup tied it back up at 25 apiece. The Snappers, however, would close the half on another run, 8-0 in nature, and take a 33-25 lead going into the halftime locker room. 

After Spoon River had kept the game just over a possession's margin, Amariyae Wilson found Mabon out on the wing for a three-pointer to cut the game to 44-43 with still 11:40 left to play. As much as Ashby is known for his interior presence on both sides of the ball, he'd knock down his ninth three-pointer of the season to give the Cougars a 46-44 lead over Spoon River with 10:20 left. From that point, a pity to whomever was tracking lead changes, as the teams would trade made buckets to keep it within a point or two for the next few trips down the floor. Mabon continued to out-physical his way through the lane for another tough floater, giving ICC a 56-52 lead with 5:45 to go. Ah, did we say Mabon? Well, yes, but a personal 4-0 run on a breakaway finger roll, plus Richardson picking off the subsequent Spoon River inbounds pass and finding Mabon underneath for another bucket was crucial to the game's result, giving ICC a 60-55 lead with 4:42 to go. Richardson knocked down a couple technical free throws for a 64-60 advantage with 2:07 left. One simply could not get a better dagger than Ashby running baseline for a slam dunk and a 66-62 lead. Those 66 points would not be it, but would be enough to put ICC in the Region 24 Final Four. Mabon, perhaps poetically so, took the last shots of the game, knocking down some free throws to cap the 70-point team performance. 

FINAL STATISTICS
Tony Mabon Jr. | 26 points, 11 rebounds
LaColis Ashby Jr. | 17 points, 4 blocks
Isaiah Donnell | 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks
Azarion Richardson | 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Amariyae Wilson | 5 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
Cameron Weed | 2 points, 3 rebounds
Israel Bennett | 2 points
Payton Cook | 9 rebounds

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2024 Region 24 Tournament Semifinal
vs. #3 John Wood Blazers (18-12)
Saturday, March 9th - 3:00 PM
Waugh Gym - Ina, Ill.
Watch Live (YouTube)