(Sugar Grove, IL) - Waubonsee Community College's men's basketball team held off Prairie State College for a 92-87 victory on Thursday evening. In the process the Chiefs (16-6, 7-4) knocked the Pioneers (13-11, 8-3) out of a three-way tie for the lead in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC). Entering the evening the Pioneers, McHenry County College and Morton College all had 8-2 records in conference play. Waubonsee jumped out to a big lead in the first half before Prairie State clawed their way back into the game. The Chiefs pulled out their 16th win by nailing 21 of 26 free throws, including making 9 out 10 in the final 1:09 of the contest.
Waubonsee came out firing on all cylinders, especially from long range. Traevon Brown nailed a trio of treys early on as Waubonsee made eight shots from beyond the arc in the first half alone. The Chiefs led by as many as 20 points in the first half before heading to the locker room with a 52-37 lead. The Pioneers got the deficit down to single digits on several occasions throughout the second half, but Waubonsee responded each time. Prairie State, sparked by Jaylin Brown's 27 points, pulled within four points in the final minute of the game. However, Waubonsee sealed the win by knocking down their free throws.
Joey Niesman led Waubonsee with a game-high 30 points to go along with seven rebounds. Cooper Larsen added 15 points and hauled down eight boards. Jaylyn Kelley finished with 13 points and three assists. Brown ended the game with nine points and three assists, Anthony Thompson also tallied nine points and three assists, and Cam Russell chipped in with eight points and seven steals. The Chiefs' bench out scored the Pioneers 28-6 overall and registered 22 points off Pioneer turnovers.
Waubonsee is in action again this coming Saturday, February 12 when they travel to south suburban Cicero to battle Morton College in a key ISCC match-up. The Chiefs and Panthers are set to tip-off beginning at 1:00 p.m. Waubonsee returns home to Erickson Hall Gymnasium next Tuesday, February 15 when they host McHenry County College starting at 7:15 p.m.