Box Score

Grinnell, IA – The Prairie Fire were unable to slow down high scoring Grinnell College and suffered a 124-85 Midwest Conference loss on Wednesday.

Grinnell (9-2, 4-2 MWC), the top scoring team in the nation averaging 132 points per game, pulled away from Knox midway through the first half.

After trailing by seven in the first five minutes of the contest, the Prairie Fire (1-11, 0-7 MWC) closed the gap to 20-16 on a dunk by senior David Jones (Denver, CO, Colorado Academy/Air Force Academy) at the 11:03 mark.

The Pioneers followed with a 16-5 run for a 36-21 lead with 6:15 remaining in the opening half.  A layup by first-year Deandre Weathersby (Chicago, IL, Kenwood Academy) capped a 6-0 surge by Knox that trimmed the deficit to single-digits at 36-27 with 5:14 to go.

Grinnell answered with its own 6-0 run in the next minute to stretch the lead to 42-27.  The Pioneers led by as many as 20 (52-32) with 1:41 left and took a 56-37 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Knox shot 54 percent in the first half and sank 9-of-12 free throws.  However, Grinnell buried 10 3-point baskets and forced 15 Prairie Fire turnovers.

The Prairie Fire outscored the Pioneers 11-3 in the first three minutes of the second half.  Sophomore Charlie Harned (Webster Groves, MO, Clayton) scored on a layup and was fouled on the play to get Knox within 11 points at 59-48.  Harned was unable to make the free throw to complete the conventional three point play.

The Pioneers, who improved to 6-1 on their home floor this season, scored 20 of the next 30 points to build the lead to 79-58 with 12:12 to play in the game.

The Prairie Fire couldn't get any closer than 19 points as Grinnell outscored Knox 68-46 after halftime.

The Pioneers shot 40 percent overall, which included 24 baskets from behind the 3-point line.  Grinnell also held a 60-44 rebounding edge, including 31 caroms on the offensive end.

The Prairie Fire hit 49 percent from the field in the second half and finished at 51 percent shooting, a season-high.

Jones led three Knox players in double-figure scoring with 21 points to go along with eight rebounds.  Senior Eric Miller (Villa Park, IL, Willowbrook) contributed a season-high 16 points and Weathersby had a career-high 13 points.  First-year Mike Martin (Metamora, IL, Metamora), in his second game of the season, finished with seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Jack Taylor scored a game-high 32 points for Grinnell, which is tied for second place in the MWC standings with Ripon College.

Knox returns home for a Midwest Conference game against Illinois College (7-4, 3-3 MWC) on January 14 at 5:30 p.m.

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