Rend Lake College

12/09/2009

MEN'S BASKETBALL: Warriors shut down Saints

Warriors forward EJ Randolph (Mt. Vernon) drives on Shawnee’s Tamren Holt in the first half of Rend Lake’s 97-86 win over the Saints, Tuesday night, in Ina. Looking on is SCC Coach John Sparks who, along with President Larry Peterson in the stands, watched his team’s six-game winning streak come to a close with the Warriors. CLICK HERE for a larger image.

Forward Isaiah Cunningham (Eldorado) watches teammate Dustin Winter (Pinckneyville) put the finishing touch on a 97-86 win over Shawnee Community College, Tuesday night, that snapped the Saints’ perfect record. Cunningham surged in the second half with 14 of his 16 total points. CLICK HERE for a larger image.

INA, Ill. - Rend Lake College handed Shawnee its first loss in Juco basketball action Tuesday night in Ina. Ranked 14th on the NJCAA DII polls, the Saints walked into Waugh Gym at 6-0 but would not walk out with their streak intact.

The Warriors walked away with their sixth win and a .500 record after putting up 97 points and holding a Saints squad, that had been averaging nearly 107 ppg, to only 86.

"I was really proud of our guys tonight," said Warriors head coach Tim Wills. "We played really hard."

Wills said the 11 point difference could have been much more if his team hadn't gone 28 for 48 from the free-throw line and allowed the Saints 30 offensive rebounds in the first half.

Coming out of halftime up 44-39, RLC freshman forward Isaiah Cunningham (Eldorado, Ill.) gave his team the boost they needed by scoring 14 of his 16 in the second half. The Warriors had six of their nine active players in double figures. They were led by sophomore guards Reggie Reed (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and Jimmy Abraham (Katy, Texas) who combined with 16-21 from the line and five 3s. Reed finished with a game-high 21, followed by Abraham with 20.

Freshman Dustin Winter (Pinckneyville, Ill.) had 11 for the Warriors. Sophomores EJ Randolph (Mt. Vernon, Ill.) and Sotiris Psyrris (Athens, Greece) had 14 and 13, respectively, and sophomore Todd Carpenter (Sesser, Ill.) had two.

Chris Price led Shawnee with 19. The Saints had four players in double figures.

This concludes the 2009 half of the season for RLC. The Warriors will be back Jan. 6 to kick off the conference season on the road against Southeastern Illinois. For all things athletic at RLC, visit the college online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

NJCAA Men's Basketball

12/08.2009

Shawnee Community College Saints (6-1)

@ Rend Lake College Warriors (6-6)

RLC 44 97

SCC 39 86

RLC (97) Reed 2 8-11 21, Abraham 3 8-10 20, Winter 1 3-4 11, Randolph 3 5-6 14, Psyrris 5 0-11 13, Cunningham 6 4-4 16, Carpenter 2 0-2 2.

SCC (86) Petty 0 1-2 1, Price 9 1-3 19, Johnson 2 0-0 5, Embery 3 0-0 6, Holt 2 6-6 10, Murden 2 0-2 2, Saffell 0 6-6 6, Smith 0 0-2 3, Jones 2 0-0 2, Williamson 2 4-4 8, Scott 3 3-4 12, Gillespie 4 1-2 12

Three-pointers, RLC 9 (Reed 3, Abraham 2, Winter 2, Randolph, Psyrris) SCC 4 (Johnson, Smith, Scott, Gillespie). Team fouls, RLC 23 SCC 31. Foul-outs, none. Technicals, RLC 1 (Pope) SCC 2