CANTON, Ill. – No. 20 Parkland College Men's Basketball (6-5, 2-2 M-WAC) made a late push but was unable to overtake No. 12 Spoon River College (10-3, 4-0) in a top-20 conference matchup.
 
The Cobras dug themselves a hole in the beginning, falling behind, 3-11.  The gap was reduced to four, at 14-18, but was then extended to eleven with 3:20 on the clock. At the half, Parkland trailed by eight, 38-46.
 
Out of the break, the Snappers quickly increased the lead to fifteen, 45-60, but an 8-0 run by the Cobras brought the visitors to within seven at the midway point of the half.
 
The Cobras came within six, 65-71, but the Snappers got it right back up to ten, 65-75, with only two minutes remaining. Parkland then began to extend the game, forcing Spoon River to make free throws. A 10-3 Parkland run brought the Cobras within three, 75-78 with 30 seconds on the clock.
 
Each team scored three points in the span of 15 seconds, and a Parkland foul put Spoon River at the line with only 12 seconds remaining. The Snappers missed both free throws, giving the Cobras a chance to tie at the buzzer, but a Parkland drive to the basket produced no foul call and no bucket.
 
Josh Rivers (18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) and Sean Ealy (14 points, 3 steals) were the leading scorers for Parkland, and Kevin Bishop II (11 points, 12 rebounds) produced a double-double. Along with Bishop II, Jordan Burge (11 points, 5 rebounds) also scored eleven points.
 
The Cobras out-rebounded the Snappers, 47-35, with Bishop II, Rivers, and Deonte Douglas (7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks) combining for 28.
 
Up next, the Cobras return to Champaign, Ill., to host M-WAC opponent Illinois Central College on Thursday, March 4. Tip-off is scheduled at 7:00 pm.