Scottsdale, AZ - If you like offense, this game is for you. The Illinois Central College Men's Basketball team (3-9) had safely made its way to the Grand Canyon State of Arizona to begin its three-game out-of-state trip. On Thursday night, they started by taking on the Artichokes from Scottsdale. While the first half was fairly uneventful, the second half and onward were anything but, as free throws and turnovers were the name of the end of the game in a 2OT loss for the Cougars to the Artichokes, 109-106. 

FIRST HALF
Scottsdale got the game started hot, but a push back from the Cougars made it a competitive game the rest of the way. Alas, a tip-in from the Artichokes at the halftime buzzer gave the hosts a 39-31 lead at the break, along with some momentum. That being said, it would become momentum not necessarily used. 

SECOND HALF
In the second half, the Artichokes would maintain that 7-10 point lead, but for only around five minutes or so, as the Cougars made another big turn to get the game trimmed down. A floater from Idris Thomas cut the deficit to just one point midway through the second half. Thomas would also knock down a fadeaway jumper for a Cougar lead at 61-60. 

A spinning fadeaway from Shamar Grant gave ICC a 63-60 lead at the 9:26 mark of the second half. That would be ICC's largest lead of the game, serving as a testament to just how close this game was. Now, there would also be significantly more points put up on the scoreboard, but that's to be described. 

A technical foul called on the Cougars at the six-minute mark of the second half resulted in the Artichokes taking a 69-68 lead. However, the Cougars didn't let the potential emotional swing from such an occurrence phase them. A trey from Jaylen Brown gave ICC the lead right back at 71-69 with 5:38 left in regulation. 

From here, teams would seemingly trade baskets, or, if more, three point leads. The Artichokes led 84-83 with 11 seconds left in the second half, and a foul was called on the Cougars, bringing Scottsdale to the line. Perhaps thankfully for ICC, the Artichokes went 1-2 instead of 2-2, and this game was headed to a five-minute overtime period. 

OVERTIME
The Cougars seemingly were in control, at least by standards of a tight-knit overtime. A lay-in from Payton Cook put ICC in front 95-91 with just 1:17 to go. That lead would be whisked away, with the Artichokes making it 97-96 with just 4.4 to go in overtime. On an ICC inbound, Scottsdale would be called for a foul and send the Cougars to the line, and another 1-2 free throw trip sent the game to yet another overtime, with the game tied 97-97. At this point, certainly, whomever came out victorious was guaranteed to break the century mark. 

DOUBLE OVERTIME
ICC got off to a solid start in the second overtime, with Shamar Grant knocking down a three for a 100-97 lead just one minute in. However, an Artichoke and-one a couple minutes later put them ahead 104-102 with 2:47 in the second overtime. None of those in attendance knew it at the time, but as stressful a game as this may have been, that would be the last time the lead would change hands. 

The Artichokes led 107-104. They had the ball with the shot clock off. Granted, ICC would foul anyway, but they just have to inbound the ball. They didn't - an inbound violation. Cougar ball with no time off the clock, either. Add onto that, Payton Cook was fouled and sent to the line with 6.1 seconds to go in 2OT. A 2-2 free throw trip brought ICC within a singular point at 107-106. They would still have to foul, and foul they did.

Scottsdale only went 1-2, though, and the game's result was still in play. The Cougars inbounded the ball and advanced roughly a quarter of the way up the court before calling time with 4.3 seconds left. Down one. Even a free throw at least forces triple overtime, although that wouldn't be plan A. Unfortunately, the ICC inbound pass was picked off by the Artichokes, and the Cougars would foul again. A 2-2 free throw trip iced the game at 109-106, and ICC only had 0.6 seconds to a.) advance the length of the floor and b.) get a three off, which did not come to fruition and the Artichokes won in the three-point 2OT thriller. 

COUGAR STATISTICS
Idris Thomas | 24 points, 3 rebounds
Payton Cook | 19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals
Azarion Richardson | 15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Jaylen Brown | 13 points, 3 rebounds
Isaiah Payne | 7 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds
RJ Davitz | 7 points, 5 rebounds
Jeremiah Tate | 6 points, 4 rebounds

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ Glendale Gauchos (9-3)
Friday, January 3rd - 8:00 PM CST
at Glendale, AZ
Watch Live (YouTube)