(Sugar Grove, IL) – Waubonsee Community College's Men's Basketball team remained undefeated with a 86-66 victory over the Illinois Institute of Technology's Junior Varsity on Saturday afternoon in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. The Chiefs (6-0) utilized their height advantage and quickness to get a lot of high percentage, close-in shots on the way to downing the visiting Scarlet Hawks, overcoming some sloppy play at times that resulted in numerous turnovers.
On the Chiefs' first possession center Brice Langford powered his way inside for a basket to start the scoring. That established a trend that would continue throughout much of the first half of play as Waubonsee scored six inside baskets to jump ahead 12-4. Meanwhile, the Chiefs' intense man-to-man defense caused havoc as lllinois Tech came away empty handed on its' first six possessions before finally getting on the board. Back-to-back long three-pointers by Joey Niesman put Waubonsee ahead 23-9 as they appeared poised to turn the game into a rout midway through the first period. The Scarlet Hawks had other ideas though as they battled back to within 30-24 with six minutes to go before intermission. The Chiefs got the lead back up to double-digits, but the pesky Scarlet Hawks would not go away. A one-handed slam by Immanuel Adams cut the deficit to 39-33 with a minute left before they went to the locker room trailing Waubonsee by only seven points at 41-34.
The teams traded baskets to start the second half with Adams scoring on a reverse lay-up and Niesman on a breakaway lay-in for the Chiefs. A reverse lay-in by Jaylyn Kelley off a nice assist from Colton Schutt put Waubonsee up by double-digits once more three minutes into the second half. The Chiefs led by 15 points three minutes later before Illinois Tech battled back to within six points at 60-54 with 10 minutes remaining. Two minutes later Waubonsee went back in front by double-digits when Langford threw down a two-handed slam off of an inbounds pass. A steal and lay-in by Niesman with six minutes to go made the score 70-56 as the Chiefs tried to finally put the Scarlet Hawks away. An offensive rebound and put back basket by Langford, followed by a three-point play by Niesman suddenly resulted in the Chiefs biggest lead to that point at 80-61 with three minutes left. A two-handed dunk by J. Caleb Slawinski moments later then put an exclamation point on the win.
Niesman led all scorers with 24 points, including three baskets from beyond the arc to go along with six rebounds, six assists and five steals. Slawinski finished with 14 points, five boards, four steals and three assists, while Schutt added 12 points and five rebounds. Langford chipped in with 11 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Waubonsee's next game is set for Tuesday, November 22 when they travel to Joliet Junior College with the tipoff being at 7:00 p.m. on the Wolves' court. The 17th ranked Chiefs return home to Erickson Hall Gymnasium on Tuesday, November 29 to host ninth ranked Milwaukee Area (WI) Technical College. That "Black-Out" game between the Chiefs and Stormers is scheduled to being at 7:00 p.m. following the women's game which starts at 5:00 p.m. All Waubonsee fans are encouraged to wear black Chiefs' gear that evening to support the home team.