(Sugar Grove, IL) – Waubonsee Community College men's basketball team registered an early season 'signature win' by knocking off fourth-ranked Milwaukee Area (WI) Technical College 93-90 on Tuesday evening. The Chiefs (6-3) never trailed the entire game as they handed the Stormers (7-1) their first loss of the season behind an outstanding performance by point guard D.J. Ellis. The freshman from North Aurora booked 21 points, handed out nine assists and grabbed six rebounds in helping lead the Chiefs to victory.
Waubonsee displayed intensity and focus throughout a stellar first half. The Chiefs shot 51 percent (19 of 37) from the floor and 93 percent (14 of 15) from the foul line on the way to securing a 58-49 halftime lead. Courtney Fields tallied 11 points, while Ellis and Simeon Strauss each contributed 10 points in a fast paced first half. The game went back and forth throughout much of the second half. The Stormers pulled to within a basket on several occasions, but were never able to pull even. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' lead was never more than half a dozen points until a 6-0 spurt put Waubonsee in front 87-78 with six minutes remaining. Milwaukee responded with a 6-0 run of their own as the game went down to the wire.
After a Chiefs' timeout with two minutes left, Waubonsee executed a perfect pick-and-roll play resulting in a lay-in by Caleb Siler for a 91-84 lead. The Chiefs led by six with just under a minute to go when Milwaukee got a steal and a three-pointer by Steven Ross in transition to get within three. Another Chiefs turnover moments later gave the Stormers a chance to tie it, but this time Ross misfired on a long-range attempt. Milwaukee got the rebound with 0:18 left, but the Stormers' Justin Briley was quickly called for double dribble. Ross then fouled Ellis on the ensuing inbounds play sending him to the line with 0:16 remaining. However, he missed both foul shots giving the Stormers' one last chance to tie it. Another three-point attempt by Ross was off the mark and Waubonsee's Asa Wiliams snagged the rebound to secure the victory to the delight of the home crowd.
Besides Ellis, the Chiefs had three other players reach double digits in points. Fields finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Williams also tallied 15 points, while Strauss posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. Collmann Aaron chipped in with eight points and three blocked shots, and Siler contributed six points and six boards. The Chiefs are in action again this Thursday, December 5 when they host Benedictine University's Junior Varsity beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Erickson Hall.