Box Score CHICAGO, Ill. – No. 4 Parkland men's basketball scored 46 second-half points to overcome a 38-36 halftime deficit, defeating Malcolm X College, 84-70, on Thursday night. Highlighting the night was freshman forward Joey Saracco who recorded his first collegiate double-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks. Carter Jeffries (16 points) and Bruno Williams Jr. (14 points) also scored in double figures, while point guard Ty'Ohn Trimble tied his season high with 10 assists.
 
Thanks in large part to the near triple double by Saracco and Williams Jr.'s 14 points and eight boards, Parkland dominated the paint on both ends of the court in route to the win. The Cobras outscored Malcolm X by 26 points (50-24) in the paint and won the rebound battle by 19 (53-34), including 22 second chance opportunities.
 
Averaging 4.7 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game coming into the contest, Bolingbrook, Ill., native Joey Saracco obliterated his previous season-high in points (11), rebounds (7) and blocks (2). Keying the 23 points on the offensive end was efficiency in the post, as Saracco made 11 of his 14 shot attempts.
 
Joining Saracco in the post, Bruno Williams Jr. added in 14 points and eight rebounds after totaling 24 points and eight boards on Monday at Rend Lake. Third on the team in scoring this season, Williams Jr. has now scored in double figures in each of his last three games.
 
Off the bench, Carter Jeffries scored in double figures for the first time since November 26, tallying 16 points with 12 points coming in the second half. Joining Jeffries, Jaden Coleman added in eight points and six rebounds.
 
Although Parkland led by as much as eight points in the first half, Malcolm X forged ahead by creating separation beyond the three-point line. While the home team's zone defense held Parkland to just 2-of-12 shooting from deep in the first 20 minutes, Malcolm X knocked down six of their eight attempts. Keeping the Cobras within striking distance were freshmen Joey Saracco and Tommy Makabu. Saracco led the team with 11 first-half points, while Makabu scored eight in his first start of the season.
 
Coming out of the locker room down by two, the Cobras kept it close during the first part of the half before a run midway through the half gave Parkland an 11-point lead with 10 minutes to go. Malcolm X would respond with a run of their own, outscoring the Cobras by 11 points over the next six minutes to level the score with four minutes remaining. However, the run was quickly erased as Parkland won the final four minutes by 14 points.
 
Leading the second half charge on offense was improved shooting, as Parkland hit five of their 12 three-point attempts, including four from Carter Jeffries.
 
The game on January 26 is a part of the 2018 Hall of Fame Induction Day, as the induction ceremony will take place during halftime of the men's game. The Parkland women will precede the men's game at 1 p.m.