CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The No. 16 Parkland men's basketball team (14-4, 1-0 MWAC) opened conference play with a nail-biter win, 75-74, over John Wood CC (8-13, 0-1 MWAC). Carter Jeffries (24 points) and Noah Persich (23 points) each made five 3-pointers to lead the team in scoring.
 
The Cobras built a 5-point halftime lead and extended it to 14 with 17:30 to play in the game. The Blazers methodically fought back, however, and ultimately tied it, 72-72, with a 3-pointer and 1:39 showing on the game clock. With 1:06 on the clock, Jeffries hit a huge 3-pointer, that would eventually be the game-winner, giving Parkland a 75-72 lead. John Wood responded with a layup, at the 44-second mark, in what would be a frantic, yet unfruitful final minute.
 
With 20 seconds remaining, Bruno Williams Jr. (14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists) missed a contested jumper. Though Charles Campbell Jr. (10 rebounds, 3 assists) secured the rebound, the shot had missed the rim, and, due to the shot-clock violation, possession went to the Blazers. John Wood called timeout with 11 seconds remaining, and after in-bounding the ball, drew a foul underneath the basket. With three seconds on the clock, the Blazers missed both free throws. Parkland was quickly fouled on the rebound, and then again on the inbounds play, earning an opportunity to extend the lead from the line with under 2 seconds to play. This charity toss was also missed, and a John Wood rebound led to one, final full-court heave, which was well off the mark.
 
Up next, the Cobras host Illinois Central in Champaign, Ill., on Wednesday, January 29th, at 7:30 pm.