Box Score
CARLINVILLE, Illinois – The Prairie Fire shook off a double-digit first half deficit with red hot shooting in an 89-73 non-conference win at Blackburn College on Tuesday.

Knox, squaring off against Blackburn for the first time since a 72-56 win at home to open the 1997-98 season, broke open a tight game with a 17-2 run over the final four minutes to earn a second straight victory.

The Prairie Fire (3-6) held a slim 72-71 lead with 3:45 remaining when first-year DJ Lewis (Chino Hills, CA, Chino Hills) drained two straight 3-point baskets that extended the edge to seven about one minute later.  Knox held the Beavers (2-7) to just a pair of free throws during the run that also included four consecutive foul shots made by sophomore Deandre Weathersby (Chicago, IL, Kenwood Academy) down the stretch.

Blackburn withstood a strong start by the Prairie Fire and sophomore Robert Suntken (Naperville, IL, Naperville Central) to build a 38-27 advantage with 5:23 left in the opening half.  Suntken scored 10 points in the first four minutes of the contest to help Knox grab a 14-8 lead.  The Beavers, after a tie and two lead changes, put together a 7-0 run for a 22-16 lead midway through the half.

Senior Mitch Murphy (Bushnell, IL, Bushnell-Prairie City) closed out the first half with 3-point baskets on the last two possessions as the Prairie Fire cut the Blackburn lead to 45-40 at the break.

Suntken scored two buckets and Lewis drained his first of three 3-pointers in the game as Knox scored seven of the first eight points in the second half to regain a 47-46 lead.  The lead changed hands three times before Suntken and first-year Caylab Herrera (Middletown, DE, Middletown) both knocked down 3-point baskets that put the Prairie Fire on top, 56-53, with 14:41 to play.

The Beavers tied the game at 67 and 69-all.  Knox took the lead for good on a free throw by first-year Orlando Brown (Chicago, IL, Hinsdale South) with 4:15 left in the game.

The Prairie Fire shot a blistering 52 percent (30-of-58) overall and sank 13-of-28 from 3-point range while holding Blackburn to 39 percent (25-of-69) shooting.  Knox also helped itself at the foul line by connecting on 16-of-21 attempts.

Suntken led four players in double-figure scoring with a career-high 24 points, which included 5-of-7 shooting from behind the 3-point line.  Brown added 15 points, Murphy had 13 and Weathersby 10.  Murphy, who also dished out five assists, and sophomore Mike Martin (Metamora, IL, Metamora) led the Prairie Fire with eight rebounds apiece while Weathersby recorded game-highs of seven assists and five steals.

Knox is back in action with a Midwest Conference game at Ripon College on January 3 at 3:00 p.m.  The Prairie Fire will try for a third straight win overall and second in a row in league play against the Red Hawks (6-2, 4-1 MWC), who are riding a three-game winning streak going into games against at home against Calvin College and Alma College later this week.