East Peoria, IL - The Illinois Central College Men's Basketball team (4-11, 1-1) returned to the friendly confines of Ramsey Gym on Wednesday night, as they took on the Spoon River Snappers (5-9, 2-2) in a Region 24 game. Outside of a couple extended Snapper leads, this one was close throughout, with a Cougar score with 13.5 seconds remaining giving ICC it's first Region win of the year, with a final score of 61-60. 

The game got off to quite a low-scoring start, with both teams struggling to put their stamp on the game. Around the five minute mark of the first half, the Snappers had started to build one of multiple five to seven-point leads, but the Cougars, as they did for a majority of the game, continued to fight back. Although ICC was unable to capitalize on a Spoon River shot clock violation just before half, the Cougars were right there, with the visiting Snappers taking a mere 25-23 lead into the locker room. 

To start, the second half effectively maintained the same pace. Other than perhaps a quicker scoring pace, both teams seemed content with their first half happenings. Yet again, Spoon River would work the margin up to around seven points at the half's midway point, making it seem, especially with time winding down, that they were slipping away. 

One last push from the Cougars would follow. Idris Thomas would already be the leading scorer for the night, but he was especially crucial down the stretch of the second half. It would be his lay-in with 4:25 to go that gave ICC a lead at 55-54, and although they wouldn't keep the lead for much longer, at least having the lead gave the Cougars some 'bonus fight', if you will. 

A Snapper bucket with 39.2 seconds to go put them ahead 60-59. Tony Wysinger would call time and gather his group together for (likely) one last go at a victory. Bearing in mind ICC was just in a very similar spot a couple games ago against Scottsdale (lost 109-106 in 2OT), so other than substantially fewer points, a play was in the back pocket. Starting with 23 seconds to go, Jeremiah Tate would work the baseline, where Thomas would hit a floater and give ICC a 61-60 lead. 

Ah, but there were still 7.9 seconds left after Spoon River had dribbled up floor and called a timeout of their own - plenty of time for a potential buzzer-beater. Tate, having just delivered the assist on the other end of the floor, played lock-down defense to force the game-winner attempt to be an air ball, and any potential rebound was tipped into no man's land, and the clock hit 0.0, giving the Cougars that 61-60 win. 

COUGAR SCORING (Live Stats Unavailable Today)
Idris Thomas | 14 points
Payton Cook | 12 points
Azarion Richardson | 10 points
Rickey Woods III | 9 points
Michael Womer | 6 points
Jeremiah Tate | 6 points
Cody Marcinko | 4 points

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
vs. Lincoln Land Loggers (3-12, 1-2)
Wednesday, January 15th - 7:30 PM
at Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Illinois
Watch Live (HUDL-TV)