ELGIN, IL - Strong shooting by Judson University (5-4) gave the Eagles their fifth win of the season as they held off Illinois Tech (3-9), 99-88, in a tight contest. Illinois Tech was within three points five different times in the second half. Judson's Josh Edwards (Mapleton, IL) canned seven three-pointers to lead all scorers with 27 points.

With just 8:35 left in the game, Illinois Tech came within three, 73-70, only to see Judson go on a 15-7 run over the next five minutes for an 11-point lead, 88-77. Illinois Tech came no closer than seven in the final three minutes.

After Edwards 27 points, Judson had 17 points from Landon Skinner (Plano, TX), 14 points from Dovydas Retkus (Lithuania), and 10 points from LeStan Hoskins (Danville, IL). Hoskins also led Judson in rebounding with six. Illinois Tech's Rob Knapczyk and Kyle Corbin each added 22 points.

Judson opened up as large as a 14-point lead (58-44) in the second half with 17:47 left in the game. Illinois Tech came fighting back with a 13-2 run to come within three, 60-57, at the 14:24 mark. By the 12:34 mark, Judson's Skinner made it an eight-point game on a three-pointer but Illinois Tech had the lead down to three, twice, 67-64, and 69-66, with 10:22 left.

With 9:03 to go, Judson's Brian Sherwood (Oak Forest, IL) put the Eagles up by five, 73-68, on a jumper but just 28 seconds later Illinois Tech was within three, again, 73-70. Judson scored five straight points in the next minute for an eight-point advantage, 78-70, but Illinois Tech was within five, 80-75, with just 6:12 to go in the game. In the next two and half minutes, Judson had an 8-2 run to put the game away with an 11-point lead, 88-77, with the final six points scored on two three-pointers by Edwards. Illinois Tech came no closer than seven points after that 11-point lead by Judson.

The first half was just as close for both teams. Judson opened the game on a 12-3 run just two and half minutes into the game. Illinois Tech had the nine-point lead down to five, 17-12, by the 14:32 mark. Judson then pushed their lead to 13, 32-19, with a 15-5 run in just three minutes with 11:30 left in the half. Josh Weber (Sterling, IL) gave Judson the 13-point lead on two free throws.

Illinois Tech had Judson's 13-point lead down to six, 35-29, at the 6:29 mark but Judson put their lead back into double-digits at 11, 40-29, on a layup by Hoskins at the 5:17 mark. Illinois Tech once again put together a run, 9-3, in three minutes to cut Judson's lead to five, 43-38. Judson then finished the final three minutes of the first half out scoring Illinois Tech, 7-2, for an 11-point half time lead, 51-40.

Judson shot 56% for the game from the floor and three-point land while making 70% of their free throws. Illinois Tech made 45% of their shots, was 31% from beyond the arc, and 66% from the stripe. Judson forced 21 turnovers but turned the ball over 24 times. Judson did have 12 steals to Illinois Tech's 10.

Judson will now host Silver Lake College on Friday, December 5^th, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lindner Fitness Center.