(Sugar Grove, IL) - Waubonsee Community College extended its winning streak to six games with a come from behind 87-79 win over visiting Joliet Junior College. After a season-opening loss to nationally ranked Rock Valley College, the Chiefs (6-1) have averaged 96.7 points-per-game over six consecutive wins, all home games. Meanwhile, Joliet (4-2) had started the season with five straight home games, winning four of them until arriving in Sugar Grove. In the latest NJCAA Division III poll, the Wolves were ranked 13th nationally.
Cooper Larsen and Brice Langford both scored inside baskets to give the Chiefs a 4-0 lead a minute into the game. The Wolves got on track and eventually tied the game at 11, before a three-pointer from deep in the left corner by Traevon Brown put Waubonsee in front 14-11 at the 14-minute mark. Joliet responded again, taking a 26-20 lead midway through the first half. Two minutes later Joey Niesman connected on a long three-pointer to give the Chiefs a 27-26 lead. The Oswego High School product hit another long triple to cap off a 14-4 Chiefs' run to make it 34-30 with three minutes remaining in the period. The Wolves battled back and grabbed a 36-35 lead with a minute to go until the break as the lead changed hands 10 times in the first 20 minutes of play. Joliet looked to add to that point total in the final seconds of the half, but Niesman blocked a close in shot by Andrew Johnson just before the buzzer.
As soon as the second half began the pace of action picked up. The teams traded the lead several times before Joliet surged ahead 51-45 only five minutes into the period to equal their biggest lead of the game. After a Waubonsee timeout Jaylyn Kelley nailed a trey from the top of the key to give the Chiefs some momentum. However, it did not last long as the Wolves went on a 7-0 run for a 58-48 lead. Joliet took its biggest lead midway through the half, going ahead 66-53 on a three-pointer by Johnson. The Wolves kept Waubonsee at bay until a three-point play by Cam Russell got the deficit back down to single digits at 67-58 with eight minutes to go. A put back basket by Russell and a driving lay-in by Brown got Waubonsee within 67-62 a minute later. A three-pointer by Anthony Thompson cut the led to four points, and another long range basket by Kelley suddenly made it a one point game at 72-71 with five minutes left.
After a Joliet turnover, Thompson made a terrific pass to a streaking Russell who laid the ball in for a 73-72 Waubonsee lead to cap off an 8-0 run. A moment later another great pass in transition, this time by Niesman, set up Russell for another lay-in and a 77-76 Chiefs' lead, the twentieth and final lead change of the night. A driving lay-in by Thompson put Waubonsee in front by three with two minutes to go, as the Wolves seemed to run out of energy. A defensive flop infraction by Joliet gave the Chiefs' a technical free throw, which Brown converted for a four-point lead. After a pair of missed free throws by Joliet, Thompson eventually went to the line for Waubonsee and rattled home the first charity toss for an 81-76 lead with 1:30 to go.
Once again Joliet turned the ball over, and Russell scored again with an assist from Kelley for a seven-point Waubonsee lead. The Wolves missed two more free throws before Brown made a pair from the line with 0:30 left to make it 85-76. A pair of free throws by Kelley with 0:16 remaining iced the Chiefs' victory. Down the stretch Joliet missed six straight free throws, went just 1 for 5 from the field, committed five fouls and turned the ball over three times. Waubonsee made 12 of 13 free throws in the second half after a dismal 3 for 7 performance from the line in the first period.
Brown led Waubonsee with 20 points going 6 for 6 from the foul line, while recording four steals. Niesman added 14 points, including four baskets from beyond the arc. Russell finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Thompson chipped in with 10 points, six assists and five boards. Kelley contributed eight points, three assists, three steals and five rebounds. Larsen ended the game with nine points, Langford hauled down six rebounds, and Colton Schutt tallied seven points, snagged five boards and handed out three assists.
The Chiefs are in action again next Monday, November 29 when they go on the road for the first time this season and take on highly touted Milwaukee Area (WI) Technical College. The Stormers (7-1) are currently ranked sixth in the most recent NJCAA Division II poll. The contest will be held at Alverno College's Reinman Gym beginning at 8:00 p.m. (CDT). Jim Williams' women's team is set to also battle the Stormers that evening with a 6:00 p.m. tipoff in Milwaukee.