Box Score

Jacksonville, Ill. – Illinois College rode a hot shooting first half to a 103-60 Midwest Conference win over the Prairie Fire on Wednesday.

IC opened with a 9-2 lead that Knox cut to 11-10 on a free throw by senior David Jones (Denver, CO, Colorado Academy/Air Force Academy) at the 14:53 mark.

The Blueboys (13-9, 9-8) followed with a 12-0 run to increase their advantage to 13.  A jumper by first-year Marcellis Davis (Chicago, IL, Curie) snapped the run with 11:37 to play before halftime.  A lay-up by junior Armand Stricklin (Lee's Summit, MO, Lee's Summit West) on the next Knox possession closed the gap to 23-14.

IC ran off 10 unanswered points to stretch the lead to 33-14 with 8:55 remaining.

A conventional three-point play by Jones about four minutes later whittled the deficit to 15 points.

A 7-0 surge by the Blueboys gave the hosts a 45-23 lead with 3:19 to go.  A free throw by Jones and a 3-pointer by Stricklin accounted for the Prairie Fire's final points of the half as IC led 51-27 at the break.

Illinois College shot 56 percent (19-of-34) in the first half, including eight 3-pointers, and committed only three turnovers while holding a 27-13 rebounding edge.

Knox connected on 37 percent (10-of-27) from the field with a pair of treys and hit 5-of-9 free throws.

The Prairie Fire (1-21, 0-17) began the second half with baskets on back-to-back possessions by first-year Mike Martin (Metamora, IL, Metamora) to pull within 53-31.  IC, however, continued its hot shooting and used an an 11-3 run to extend the lead to 64-34 with 15:24 left in the game.

The Illinois College lead grew to 85-45 with 8:38 to play.

IC finished with a 13-0 advantage in second chance points and outscored Knox 19-5 in points off of turnovers.  The Blueboys committed only four turnovers in the contest while forcing the Prairie Fire into 14 miscues.

The Blueboys shot 56.5 percent (39-of-69) overall, sank 15-of-29 attempts (52 percent) from 3-point distance, and hit 10-of-10 from the foul line.

Knox improved to 52 percent shooting in the second half and finished the game at 44 percent (24-of-54).  The visitors made 5-of-17 (29 percent) 3-point shot attempts and 7-of-11 free throws.

Jones led the Prairie Fire with 13 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists.  Martin added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Nathan Kohler of Illinois College led everyone with 20 points.

Knox concludes the season at home against Ripon College at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, which is also Senior Day at Memorial Gym.