(Sugar Grove, IL) – The much-anticipated showdown between two of the top teams in the NJCAA's Region 4 lived up to hype for a while. But then South Suburban College began clicking on all cylinders offensively and nearly ran Waubonsee Community College out of their own gym. The fifth-ranked Bulldogs (15-1) eventually downed the 15th ranked Chiefs (12-2) 105-79 on Saturday afternoon in Erickson Hall Gymnasium, spoiling Waubonsee's first home game of 2024. A pair of offensive outbursts before halftime by South Suburban proved to be the difference. While Waubonsee had not played in the last 17 days, South Suburban played four times during the holiday break, including three days ago. As the game progressed the Bulldogs clearly showed they were sharp and on top of their game, while the Chiefs often looked out of sync.
Waubonse won the opening tip and David Robinson got the scoring started quickly with a lay-in seconds later. Another Robinson lay-up on Waubonsee's next possession triggered an animated reaction from long-time South Suburban head coach John Pigatti who called a timeout only 40 seconds into the game. Pigatti, who recently notched his 500th career coaching win, got his crew's attention and focus dialed in after that. The Bulldogs responded to grab a 10-6 lead before a highlight reel reverse lay-in by Reece Boyd got the home crowd energized. Boyd was also fouled on the play and completed the three-point play to get the Chiefs within 12-11 five minutes into the game.
South Suburban then built a 21-15 lead prompting Chiefs' head coach Lance Robinson to call a timeout. When play resumed the Bulldogs were able to extend the lead to 28-19 until Robinson drilled a three-pointer from the right corner. The 6'5" sophomore was fouled on the play, falling into the first row of the bleachers. He then completed the rare four-point play as the Chiefs fought their way back to within three points as the midway point of the first half approached.
However, South Suburban changed the whole complexion of the contest when they went on a quick 10-0 run to suddenly make the deficit 13 points at 38-25 with nine minutes left until the break. The Bulldogs Jemel Jones, the leading scorer in the nation among all NJCAA Division II players with a 31.7 points-per-game average coming into the contest, continued to connect on a variety of shots. The 6'4" sophomore guard poured in 24 first half points as South Suburban kept the peddle to the metal on offense. The Bulldogs then erupted for a 15-0 run to suddenly build a 28-point lead. Waubonsee slightly chipped away at that big hill to climb in the final two minutes of the half to head to the locker room trailing 62-41. South Suburban finished the half shooting 60 percent (24 of 40) from the floor.
Jones buried a pair of shots to start the second half to push the Bulldogs' lead up to 25 points. A pair of long treys by Dylan Fuzak helped the Chiefs stay even the first five minutes of the second half as South Suburban held a 72-51 lead. Waubonsee continued to battle and trimmed the deficit to 77-59 with 12 minutes remaining as Fuzak registered another triple. However, the Bulldogs' Kenton Wright Jr. answered with a long three-pointer of his own to spark a 6-0 run for South Suburban. Fuzak then picked up his fourth foul and had to go to the bench as the visitors maintained a 22-point lead at the midway point of the second half.
The Bulldogs then put together a 15-2 run over the next five minutes of play to leave no doubt to the outcome, securing a 100-65 lead with five minutes to go. Moments later a steal and a one-handed dunk by Donovan Brown gave the home crowd something to cheer about as the Chiefs answered with a 12-0 run. But that 23-point margin would be as close as Waubonsee would get the rest of the way. Robinson finished with 13 points to lead Waubonsee in scoring. Fuzak added a dozen points with four three-point baskets in the game. Zachariah Hayslett booked 10 points, while Duane Doss contributed nine points and handed out six assists. Boyd and Brown each chipped in with nine points as well, and Aboubacar Sidibe pitched in with seven points and three assists. Jones finished with 31 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals to lead South Suburban. Quentin Heady tallied 20 points as the Bulldogs finished with five players in double digits.
Waubonsee is set to begin Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference play next Tuesday, December 9 when McHenry County College comes to Sugar Grove. The women tip off at 5:15 p.m. with the men's contest starting at 7:15 p.m. (CDT). South Suburban, in the middle of an 11-game stretch where they face eight nationally ranked teams, is set to square off against top-ranked Parkland (IL) College (15-0) that same evening in South Holland at 7:00 p.m.