Galesburg, IL - The Prairie Fire used a big second half to defeat Milwaukee School of Engineering 63-58 Saturday at Memorial Gym.

The Raiders (4-6) shot 56 percent in the first half and led 38-32 at halftime.  MSOE opened up its biggest lead of the game at 38-29 with 1:01 before intermission.

Knox (2-5), which won its second straight game, outscored the Raiders 31-20 in the second half and held MSOE to 33 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes while connecting on 53 percent from the floor.

The Fire trailed 49-46 with 10:35 to play when first-year guards Armand Stricklin (Lee Summit, MO, Lee Summit West) and Mitch Murphy (Bushnell, IL, Bushnell-Prairie City/Avon) hit back-to-back 3-point baskets to spark a 12-2 run.  The Prairie Fire took its largest lead, 58-51, with 4:57 remaining.

The Raiders closed the gap to one point at 59-58 at the 2:45 mark of the contest, but could get no closer.

Knox outscored MSOE 13-5 from the free throw line and 24-15 from 3-point range.

Senior Joe Kozak (Park Ridge, IL, Maine South) scored 14 points to lead the Prairie Fire in scoring.  Murphy and senior Tanner Carlson (Annawan, IL, Annawan) added 9 apiece while junior Doug Lillibridge (Byron, IL, Byron High School) had 10 rebounds off the bench.

Victor Bande came off the bench to lead MSOE in scoring with 14 points.

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