Ina, IL - The Illinois Central College Men's Basketball team (9-17 Overall, 4-6 Region 24) made the long trek down to Waugh Gym to take on the Rend Lake Warriors (12-12 Overall, 6-6 Region 24) in an early-week Region 24 battle. Back in early December, the Warriors won by a fairly comfortable 19-point margin, but this one would be much different. It was a game of runs, but ICC would prevail in the end, winning by a 76-71 final score.
FIRST HALF RECAP
The Warriors got out of the gates hot, taking as much as an 11-5 lead within the first four minutes of the game.
Streaky shooting kept the game in the hosts hands, but a rebound and deep ball from Rickey Woods III landed in the hands of Cooper Knoll and a point-blank bucket cut the game back within a score for the first time since 2-0, as ICC had pulled within 19-16 with 12:13 until the half. A pair of Knoll free throws cut it down to a one-point game at 19-18.
The game's margin would stay within a few points, but the Cougars couldn't quite grasp the lead. That was until Payton Cook found RJ Davitz along the baseline for a bucket and a 28-27 lead with 2:46 until the break.
After being fouled on the fast break, a pair of Woods free throws gave ICC its first multiple-possession lead at 35-30 with just 46.9 seconds on the clock. With the shot clock off, Cook was able to hit a runner and put the Cougars up 37-30 going into the locker rooms.
SECOND HALF RECAP
A long three from Isaiah Payne gave ICC its first double figure lead at 42-32 just a couple minutes into the new half.
Meanwhile, a 15-10 out-scoring of the Cougars had put the Warriors within a 52-47 margin with still 12:30 left.
A jumper from Cook, runner from Azarion Richardson, and steal + lay-in from Richardson had ICC back up double figures at 60-50 with 8:30 to go.
However, a 9-2 Rend Lake run would follow, getting it back to a one-score game (62-59 ICC).
A converted free throw by the Warriors after ICC was assessed with a flopping technical, Rend Lake had kept it within a score, now with just 2:45 left. A converted and-one tied the game up at 66-66 with 1:59 on the clock. A free throw gave the hosts a 67-66 lead with 1:32 left.
A free throw trip from Anthony Allison Jr. swung the lead back in the Cougars' favor at 68-66 with 1:30 left. As close as the game had been, nobody knew it at the time, but ICC would never surrender this lead.
Out of a timeout with 1:03 left, Idris Thomas backed in against the baseline and hit a tough lay-up for a 70-67 lead. Payne knocked down a pair of free throws to go up 72-68. A missed three from the Warriors put them in desperation mode, and the Cougars scored their last four points on free throws as well to come away with the five-point victory.
COUGAR STATISTICS
Idris Thomas | 17 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists
Payton Cook | 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Isaiah Payne | 12 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds
Cooper Knoll | 11 points
Azarion Richardson | 7 points
Rickey Woods III | 6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
RJ Davitz | 6 points
Anthony Allison Jr. | 2 points
WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
vs. (RV) Danville Area Jaguars (15-9 Overall, 8-4 Region 24)
Wednesday, February 19th - 7:30 PM Tipoff
at Ramsey Gym - East Peoria, Illinois
Watch Live (Hudl-TV)
