(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College men's basketball team extended its school-record winning streak to 23 games with a convincing 96-82 win over Oakton Community College on Tuesday evening in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. The 11th ranked Chiefs (23-1, 9-0) remained unbeaten in Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) action by overwhelming the visiting Owls (11-14, 4-5) midway through the first half and held a comfortable lead throughout the rest of the game. For the game Waubonsee shot 51 percent (37 of 71) from the floor and tallied 22 assists as a team.
The game was tied at 5-all in the early going after a three-pointer by Aboubacar Sidibe. A minute later Sidibe converted a three-point play to put the Chiefs in front and Zachariah Hayslett drilled a trey to make it 13-7 five minutes into the game. Waubonsee built the lead up to 25-14 a few minutes later as Christian Meeks scored inside three times prompting a timeout by Oakton head coach Mick Reuter. The Chiefs begin to pull away with eight minute to go until halftime as Hayslett connected on a triple to make it 34-18. A short time later Malik Petty splashed a three from the right corner and Jermaine Theodore scored in transition to up the lead to 23 points. Meeks then scored again on a powerful post move between defenders to extend the lead to 46-21 with five minutes left in the half. The Chiefs began to pour it on as Sidibe booked a long three-pointer and then scored on an acrobatic shot in traffic. Tim Taiwo drained a three from the right wing with half a minute remaining until the break. Tylon Toliver was then fouled in the final second of the half, converting one of two free throws to send the Chiefs to the locker room with a 59-33 lead.
Oakton cut Waubonsee's lead down to 20 points early in the second half before Sidibe answered with another drive to the rim for two points. A few minutes later the Chiefs' lead ballooned to 27 seven minutes into the second half. Moments later Theodore threw down a two-handed slam after a hectic sequence and then he scored on another close in shot to give Waubonsee its' biggest lead of the night at 75-44. With starter Pat Robinson out with an ankle sprain from the Chiefs' previous game, Coach Lance Robinson liberally utilized his deep bench throughout the contest. The Owls chipped away a Waubonsee's lead, getting it down to 21, before James Parker scored five quick points. Again, the Owls put together a little run, getting the deficit down to 18 with six minutes to go. Meeks then recorded a steal and monster jam with five minutes left to help keep Oakton from mounting a late comeback. The Owls eventually cut the lead down to 14 points in the final minute of play.
Sidibe led Waubonsee in scoring with 20 points and handed out four assists. Meeks tallied 19 points and hauled down six rebounds, while Hayslett chipped in with 15 points, seven boards and three assists. Toliver contributed a dozen points, Petty dished out four assists, Taiwo snagged six rebounds, and Theodore delivered three assists as well. Waubonsee goes on the road to nearby Elgin Community College to battle the Spartans this coming Thursday, February 6, starting at 7:15 p.m. Among all NJCAA Division II teams, the Chiefs are Spartans are the top two squads in three-point baskets nationally. Waubonsee topped Elgin 105-86 in their first meeting on January 7 in Sugar Grove. The Chiefs are also on the road at Moraine Valley Community College and the College of Lake County before returning home to home Wright College on Saturday, February 15, with a noon tipoff.