Box Score

Galesburg, Ill. – The Prairie Fire came up short 74-70 against Monmouth College in another hard-fought game between the two Midwest Conference rivals on Tuesday at Memorial Gym.

Knox trailed 56-50 with 9:09 to play and responded with an 11-5 surge to force the sixth tie of the contest at 61-61 with under 5:00 remaining in regulation.  The Fighting Scots split a pair of free throws on their next possession to go up 62-61 and held off the Prairie Fire – who cut the lead to one on three occasions but couldn't get over the hump.

Monmouth took its biggest lead of the game at 24-13 with left 9:37 in the first half.  A 3-point basket by senior Eric Miller (Villa Park, IL, Willowbrook) kick-started a 16-8 run by the Prairie Fire over the next 5:30 that cut the deficit to 32-29.

The Fighting Scots (4-4, 3-2 MWC) built the lead back up to five three times.  Miller drained another 3-pointer with 15 seconds on the clock, reducing Monmouth's lead to 38-36 at halftime.

The Prairie Fire (1-6, 0-3 MWC) turned the ball over 17 times and the Scots turned those miscues into 17 points.  Monmouth committed only 10 turnovers, none of them resulting in points for Knox.

The Prairie Fire shot 41.5 percent in the game to 48 percent for Monmouth.  Knox doubled up the Scots from the foul line, sinking 22-of-28 attempts.  Monmouth made just 11-of-22, including 8-of-17 in the second half.

Senior David Jones (Denver, CO, Colorado Academy/Air Force Academy), who was 11-of-12 from the free throw line, had a double-double for the Prairie Fire with 17 points and 12 rebounds.  Miller added 12 points and junior Mitch Murphy (Bushnell, IL, Bushnell-Prairie City) tallied 11.

Knox plays its last home game of 2013 on Saturday against Lawrence University at 1:00.

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