Box Score

GALESBURG, Illinois – The Prairie Fire overcame a double-digit deficit in the first half, but were unable to do it again in the second half in a 90-76 season-opening loss to Concordia University Chicago Saturday at Memorial Gym.

Concordia raced out to a 15-5 lead in the first four minutes, but Knox responded with an 8-0 run – capped by a 3-point basket from sophomore Robert Suntken (Naperville, IL, Naperville Central), to slice the deficit to 15-13.  The Cougars scored five unanswered points to build the lead back to seven at the 11:23 mark.

The Prairie Fire (0-1) stayed close and ultimately took their first lead, 29-28, on a 3-pointer by first-year DJ Lewis (Chino Hills, CA, Chino Hills) with 5:22 left in the first half.  A bucket by Concordia with 44 seconds snapped a 37-all tie and gave the visitors a 39-37 halftime lead.

The Cougars (1-0) took control with a 16-2 run that stretched a five point lead with 14:23 to play to 70-51 less than five minutes later.  Knox was unable to get any closer than 12 points the rest of the game.

Both teams shot well from the floor.  The Prairie Fire finished at 50 percent (32-of-64) while Concordia knocked down 46 percent (26-of-56), including a blistering 56 percent in the second half and 8-of-16 from 3-point range overall.

The big disparity was at the free throw line, where the Cougars outscored Knox 30-8.  Concordia also outrebounded the Prairie Fire 49-25.

Suntken led Knox with 18 points.  He netted all of his three 3-point attempts and added four steals.  Senior Mitch Murphy (Bushnell, IL, Bushnell-Prairie City) also scored in double-figures with 17 points and sophomore Mike Martin (Metamora, IL, Metamora) chipped in with 10.

The Prairie Fire host Webster University on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.  The Gorloks (0-1), the defending SLIAC champion and favorite to repeat this season, played without two key post players (injuries) and suffered a 67-49 season-opening loss Saturday at Monmouth College.