Men’s Basketball Wins Home Opener Over Chicago

December 12, 2017Posted in: Athletics

The Illinois Tech Men’s Basketball team hosted Chicago for the home opener of the 2017–18 season at Keating Sports Center on December 10. The Scarlet Hawks earned a competitive victory over the Maroons 61-54 to move to 6-2 on the season.

How It Happened

  • The game started slow, with both teams missing several shots. The teams traded baskets and ended up tied at 13 with just under 10 minutes in the half.  Jake Digiorgio took over for the Scarlet Hawks, scoring 10 of the next 13 points and dominating on the boards with seven rebounds. Illinois Tech held Chicago’s top-scorer Jake Fenlon to nine first half points and led at the halfway point 31-22.
  • Fenlon continued to shoot well at the start of the second half, knocking down two early threes as Chicago closed the gap to six. The Scarlet Hawks rebuilt the lead to 10 points before Fenlon got going once again—scoring 19 in the second half—and shrunk the lead to one. Illinois Tech recorded seven steals in the second period and continued to play strong defense while Malik Howze took control of the game down the stretch for the Hawks. Howze scored 14 points in the second, including all six of his pivotal free throw attempts with four rebounds and a steal. The Scarlet Hawks closed out the comeback efforts from the Maroons with a seven point win: 61-54.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

  • Digiorgio finished with a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds to go with two blocks and an assist.
  • Howze led the Scarlet Hawks with 20 points and just missed a double-double with nine rebounds. He also had a steal.
  • Anthony Mosley Jr. added 11 points off the bench plus four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Stats to Know

  • Illinois Tech won the rebound battle 42-34.
  • The Scarlet Hawks scored 13 points off turnovers, including eight fastbreak points.
  • Illinois Tech out shot the Maroons from the free throw line 70% to 30%.
  • Illinois Tech also led in points in the paint (32-22).

Up Next

  • The Scarlet Hawks will go back on the road to Iowa and take on Cornell College on Wednesday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
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