(Sugar Grove, IL) – Entering their Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) battle with Prairie State College on Tuesday evening, Waubonsee Community College's men's basketball team had won eight of their last nine games. However, the second-place Pioneers denied the Chiefs of their 20th win of the season by holding on for a 94-81 victory. The Chiefs (19-8, 6-5) never led the entire game as the Pioneers (17-8, 9-2) made numerous clutch shots all night long.
Prairie State tallied the first two baskets of the game before the Chiefs' Duane Doss drilled a three-pointer from the right corner nearly three minutes into the contest. Waubonsee pulled even at 7-all on a short jumper by Jaylyn Kelley before the Pioneers buried a pair of treys to grab a 13-7 lead five minutes into the game. The Pioneers controlled the glass early on as they kept the Chiefs at arms' length, holding a 23-15 lead nine minutes into the game. Waubonsee's Dylan Fuzak then came off the bench and drilled back-to-back triples to get the deficit down to four points.
A step back, fade away jumper by Kelley four minutes later kept the spread at four points as the Pioneers clung to a 30-26 lead. The visitors went ahead 37-26 a couple minutes later when Oluyemi Elutilo recorded a three-point play. Prairie State led by as many as 13 points before Joey Niesman drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key with a minute left in the half to pull the Chiefs within 46-36. Niesman then sank a long triple from the right wing at the buzzer to cut Prairie State's lead down to nine points at 48-39 going into the break.
Niesman buried another long shot from beyond the arc in the first minute of the second half as Waubonsee tried to get back in the game. A steal and breakaway lay-up by Kelley a minute later got the deficit down to seven points at 55-48. Moments later Doss also stole the ball and made a close in basket to get the Chiefs within five points. The teams traded three-point baskets over the next couple minutes as the Pioneers answered every punch Waubonsee threw at them. Waubonsee trailed by six before Prairie State quickly built their lead back to double digits at 76-65 with nine minutes remaining.
After technical fouls were called on players from each team, Fuzak then connected on another triple to make it a seven-point game. Once more the Pioneers responded as they went in front by 80-69 with seven minutes to go. A three by Colton Schutt got Waubonsee within six points a couple minutes later. A putback basket by Brice Langford cut it to 87-81 with three minutes to go. However, a big three by Morgan Rashed extended the Pioneers' lead back up to nine points on the ensuing possession as Prairie State repeatedly held off the Chiefs. Waubonsee would not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.
Niesman led a balanced Waubonsee offense with 17 points and five assists. Fuzak drained five three-pointers to finish with 15 points and seven rebounds. Kelley dropped in 14 points and snagged six boards, while Doss added 13 points, dished out nine assists and made four steals. Langford ended the night with a double-double by scoring 10 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and blocking three shots. For the Pioneers Rashed booked a game-high 21 points, followed by 20 points from Donovan Brown, 19 points from Jeremiah Johnson and 18 points and 10 assists by Dakari Graham.
The Chiefs are set to play in Cicero this Thursday, February 16 Morton College in another ISCC contest beginning at 7:15 p.m. Waubonsee is also on the road next Tuesday, February 21 when they head to Elgin Community College. The Chiefs return home on Thursday, February 23 for their final regular season game against Oakton Community College. The Chiefs are Owls are set to tipoff at 7:15 p.m. that evening.