East Peoria, Ill. - The Illinois Central College men's basketball team defeated #15 Bryant & Stratton College 84-74 Wednesday night. The Cougars led the entire game, and despite the Bryant & Stratton Bobcats efforts to keep it close, ICC remained on top at the final buzzer. 

The Cougars opened with an 8-0 run in the first two minutes, led by a back-to-back three pointer and layup for Peyton Hess, whose alma mater, Pekin high school basketball team was in attendance. After a Bobcat timeout, ICC extended the lead to 14-1 by the 16 minute mark. The Bobcats made it competitive and the two teams went back and forth for a stretch until the second timeout was called and ICC was up 22-16 with 8:18 left in the first half.

Coming out of the timeout, the Cougar's defense was on point as they held the Bobcats to one point, going on a 10-1 run, mostly in part to Jaylen Brown who had 8 of those points with two three-pointers and a two-point bucket, until the third timeout of the half was called with ICC leading 32-17 with 2:48 remaining. A layup from Anthony Moore put ICC up 36-23 at the half. 

The Cougars kept their foot on the gas as they came out of halftime enjoying multiple contributions from Javaughn Robinson and Jaylen McElmurry. The scoring continued for both teams until the Bobcats took a timeout with 11:15 left on the clock as ICC had taken a 58-42 lead. Out of this timeout, the Bobcats went on a 14-4 run, trailing by as little as four points, when the Cougars decided to call timeout. A Bobcat three put them within three points as ICC only led 62-59 with under 8 minutes to go.

The Cougars turned it around with help from Marlon Herron who was fouled on a three-pointer, which led to a technical foul being called on the Bobcats. The technical put McElmurry on the line, who sunk his free throw and Herron made one of his, putting ICC up 67-59 with less than 6 minutes left in the game. That sequence was too much for the Bobcats to come back from as the Cougars countered any attempt at a comeback. Moore put in a couple finalizing baskets as the game came to an end, 84-74, ICC over #15 Bryant & Stratton. 

Individual Stats
Jaylen Brown - 17 points, 2 assists, 2 blocks
Javaughn Robinson - 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists
Peyton Hess - 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
Anthony Allison Jr. - 5 rebounds
Cooper Knoll - 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Rickey Coleman - 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Jaylen McElmurry - 12 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists
Marlon Herron - 8 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists
Brandon Phillips - 2 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal
Anthony Moore - 6 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Friday, November 7
at 6:00 pm
vs. St. Ambrose JV
Ramsey Gym, East Peoria, IL