Elgin, Ill.- Making 87% of their free throws, the Judson University Eagles (7-5) held off the University of Indiana-South Bend, 76-70, to claim their seventh win of the year. JU went 20-of-23 from the free throw line with three players not missing a shot from the stripe.
For the second game in a row, senior Chris Oates (Streamwood, Ill.) led Judson with 23 points along with DeWayne Robinson (Memphis, Tenn.). Oates went 10-of-10 from the free throw line and grabbed nine rebounds just missing a double-double. Robinson shot 62% from the floor (10-of-16) for his 23 points and made one of Judson’s two three-pointers. The other three-pointer made was by Oates.
Collecting their second double-double of the season were Ilija Bojanic (Podgorica, Montenegro) and Joe Gonnam (Verona, Ill.). Bojanic had 12 points and 10 rebounds in just 26 minutes of play while Gonnam grabbed 10 rebounds and had 10 points. They were both perfect from the free throw line going two-of-two apiece. Ben Werner had 19 points to lead IUSB.
The fast paced game had seven lead changes and was tied six times. In the first half, JU took a quick 7-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game only to see IUSB go on a 16-4 run in the next four minutes for a seven point lead, 18-11. Now down by seven, Oates and Robinson ignited JU’s offense on their own 16-4 run to claim a five-point lead, 27-22, with 4:40 remaining in the half. In the run, Oates and Robinson combined for 12 of the 16 points. With 6:14 remaining, Robinson completed a three-point play to give JU a one-point lead, 23-22.
JU’s offense the sputtered in the final four minutes as their last shot hit from the floor came at the 4:40 mark to go up by five-points. JU only hit two free-throws in the final 4:40 as IUSB ended the half on a 8-2 run to take a 30-29 lead at the half.
In the first three minutes of the second half, JU had an 11-4 run to take a six-point lead, 40-34. Oates started the run with a lay-up to begin the half. IUSB battled back to tie the game at 42 at the 13:27 mark but an Oates three-point play just 16 seconds later gave JU the lead again, 45-42. By the 11:22, IUSB had regained the lead on a three-pointer, 46-45, but once again JU had a 7-2 run for a four-point lead, 52-48. That was the last lead that IUSB saw in the game before JU’s run. IUSB cut the lead to one, 49-48, but did not get any closer. JU pushed their lead to eight, 66-58, with 4:39 left in the game, only to see IUSB come within two, 66-64, with just 2:54 left. JU’s Oates fought right back under the basket to give JU a four-point lead on the next possession as the Eagles continued to push toward victory. IUSB could not overcome JU’s powerful inside play down the stretch as the Eagles finished off the Titans, 76-60. In the final 1:54, JU went 8-of-10 from the free throw to seal the win.
JU outscored IUSB in the paint, 42-30, but IUSB scored more points off turnovers, 23-15. JU shot 42% from the floor as IUSB made 43% from the floor. IUSB made 33% from three-point range as Judson shot a dismal 9%. IUSB went only 9-of-19 from the free throw line (47%) to JU’s 20-of-23. JU also out rebounded IUSB, 45-33.
Judson will travel to Missouri on January 7th, to face Park University at 5:00 p.m.
NOTES: Fourth game in a row that four or more players have scored in double figures … Chris Oates needs just 165 points to reach 1,000 career points … Joe Gonnam needs just 75 points to reach 1,000 points … This is the 2nd time in three games game that Judson has had two players with double-doubles … It is the 2nd game in a row that two players have scored over 20 points … Chris Oates scores 20 or more points for 2nd game in a row … Ilija Bojanic has recorded double-doubles the last two games he has played … JU now leads the series, 2-1 … It is the best free-throw percentage of the season for Judson (87%) … Chris Oates went 10-of-10 from the free-throw line … JU shot a season-low 9% from 3-point line … JU has won four out of their last six games … JU is now 6-2 at home for the season.
| Lewis University at | 2:00pm |
| Judson | CST |
| Scrimmage | |
