(Sugar Grove, IL) – After getting off to a quick start Waubonsee Community College's men's basketball team had to eventually rally to down Kishwaukee College 82-72 in a non-conference match-up Tuesday evening in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. The Chiefs (7-1), ranked 14th in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, pulled out the win despite being out rebounded 46-34. The Kougars (3-7) committed 20 turnovers in the loss.
The Chiefs won the opening tip and seconds later Donovan Brown drilled a long three-pointer to start the scoring. Reece Boyd followed with another triple for a quick 6-0 Chiefs' lead a minute into the game. A put back basket by Boyd then extended the lead to 11-2 three minutes later. The Kougars eventually got on track offensively and pulled within 14-10. But Waubonsee responded with another 6-0 run highlighted by a steal and lay-in by Fernando Perez. After a Kishwaukee timeout the visitors answered with a 6-0 run of their own to make it 20-16 nine minutes into the game. The Chiefs built their lead back up to seven points shortly thereafter. However, Kishwaukee's Joshua Bocher made a steal and hammered a two-handed, double-pump breakaway jam to help get the Kougars back within four with eight minutes left in the first half.
Waubonsee's Dylan Fuzak then buried a triple from in front of the Kougars' bench and David Robinson completed a three-point play to spark the Chiefs once more. A minute later Duane Doss connected on a pair of free throws to make it a double-digit lead once again at 31-21 with five minutes to go in the half. Fuzak splashed another trey not much later to give Waubonsee a 34-23 lead with three and a half minutes remaining. Kishwaukee then fought its way back to within five points with a couple minutes to go until the break before the Chiefs carried a 40-34 lead into the locker room.
Waubonsee started out the second half not being able to buy a basket as the Kougars reeled off 13 straight points to suddenly grab the lead 47-40 after four minutes of play. The Chiefs finally broke the seal on the basket as Doss scored on a drive to the basket and Perez hit a pair of 10-foot jumpers to make the score 47-46 after six minutes of second half action. A long three-pointer by Nahcere Abdur-Rasheed tied the game at 49 half a minute later. Perez then hit a running jumper along the right baseline to put the Chiefs in front. Perez tacked on two more free throws as a 15-2 run by Waubonsee pushed the lead to 55-49 with 12 minutes to play. A couple minutes later a three-pointer by Jalen Smith got the Kougars to within 57-52 at the midway point of the second half.
A short time later Abdur-Rasheed hit another triple from the left wing to give the Chiefs a 62-53 lead. But Kishwaukee would not go away as they cut the deficit to four points with seven minutes remaining. After an apparent shot clock violation that would have given the Chiefs the ball back, the Kougars were given the ball with one second on the shot clock. Kaden Gowdy then nailed a three as the buzzer sounded to make it a one-point game. Waubonsee responded once more taking a 67-61 lead with five minutes to go. Again, Kishwaukee clawed its way back to within striking distance and tied the game at 67-all on an inside basket by Bocher. A triple by Doss put the Chiefs back in front and Kishwaukee turned the ball back over on another shot clock violation.
In quick succession Perez scored on a short jumper, Kishwaukee committed an offensive foul and another running one-hander in the lane by Perez extended the lead to 74-67 with two minutes remaining. Aboubacar Sidibe then put an exclamation on the Chiefs run with a steal and a lay-in on a fast break. Sidibe was fouled on the play and completed the three-point play for 79-69 Waubonsee lead with 1:25 to go. Perez then nailed a pair of free throws with half a minute remaining to secure the win.
Perez finished with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Doss also tossed in 23 points, grabbed seven boards, handed out six assists and made four steals. Robinson chipped in with 10 points and Fuzak added nine points for the Chiefs. Waubonsee is in action this coming weekend when they host the Chiefs' Classic. Coach Lance Robinson's squad takes on Rockford University's Junior Varsity beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8 in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. Carl Sandburg College and Joliet Junior College square off at 6:00 p.m. that evening. On Saturday Rockford battles Joliet starting at noon and Waubonsee plays Carl Sandburg at 2:00 p.m. (CDT).