(Sugar Grove, IL) – Coming off of a tough overtime loss to nationally-ranked Milwaukee Area (WI) Technical College on Monday night, Waubonsee Community College men's basketball team looked to rebound against visiting Kishwaukee College Thursday evening. The Chiefs (7-2) rallied from an early deficit and then held off the Kougars (4-3) for a hard fought 83-80 win. Coach Lance Robinson's crew, ranked in the top-30 in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, had four players reach double digits in scoring and forced Kishwaukee into 28 turnovers.
The teams traded baskets through the opening minutes of the game. A three-pointer by Anthony Thompson from the top of the key knotted the score at 11 four minutes into the game. A three-point play a few minutes later by Kishwaukee's Joshua Bocher put the visitors in front 25-17 and prompted Coach Robinson to call timeout. A moment later a one-handed break away dunk by Cam Russell seemed to energize the Chiefs as they fought their way back. A steal and lay-in by Traevon Brown got Waubonsee within two points at 25-23 with eight minutes left. The Chiefs then pulled even at 25-all a minute later when Russell made a steal and Brown scored in transition.
A fast break basket and three-pointer by Russell from the right corner capped a 13-0 Chiefs' run to give them a 30-25 lead. After the Kougars tied the game Brice Langford powered in a two-handed dunk by off a nice interior pass by Joey Niesman put the Chiefs in front 32-30. The fast paced first half closed with a 6-2 Chiefs' run, highlighted by a spinning move and underhand scoop lay-in by Niesman. The teams headed to the locker room with Waubonsee holding a 40-36 lead.
A three-point play by Thompson got the Chiefs going in the second half. Another two-handed slam by Langford three minutes into the second half gave Waubonsee a double-digit lead at 47-36. A moment later the Chiefs went ahead by 13 and proceeded to hold off the Kougars over the next eight minutes of play. A trey from right corner by Jaylynn Kelley put Waubonsee in front 63-50 with nine minutes to go. The Kougars then began to claw their way back into the game, getting within six points at 67-61 with 6:30 to go. However, the Chiefs responded each time Kishwaukee got close with big baskets by Cooper Larsen, Traevon Brown and Thompson, along with a few defensive stops.
Leading 79-72 with a minute and a half remaining, the Chiefs' defense locked up the Kougars and got a shot clock violation. Niesman then scored on a drive to the basket with a minute to go to seemingly put the game out of reach. However, the Kougars again refused to give up, pulling within four at 81-77 with 0:16 left. A pair of free throws by Brown with 0:10 to go made it a two-possession game once more. A long three pointer by Kishwaukee's Jalen Smith at the buzzer accounted for the final score.
Brown finished with 16 points to lead the Chiefs in scoring, while adding four assists and four steals to his ledger. Larsen chipped in with 15 points and six rebounds, and Thompson tallied 14 points and handed out three assists. Niesman rounded out Waubonsee double-digit foursome as he booked 12 points to go along with seven assists and six boards. Langford ended the game with eight points, six rebounds and five blocked shots, and Russell contributed seven points, four steals, three assists and five rebounds.
The Chiefs are in action again next Tuesday, December 7 when they head into Chicago to take on Olive-Harvey College. The men tipoff at 7:30 p.m. while the women's game is beforehand starting at 5:30 p.m. (CDT). Waubonsee is also on the road on December 11, traveling to Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. The Chiefs return home on Wednesday, December 15 to host Illinois Valley Community College. The women's contest is slated for 5:30 p.m. and the men's game at 7:30 pm. (CDT) that evening in Waubonsee's Erickson Hall Gymnasium.