CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 18 Parkland College Men's Basketball (2-3) lost a tight one to Kankakee CC (4-2) by the final score of 64-66. Josh Rivers (23 points, 10 rebounds) led all scorers while producing his first double-double of the season.
 
The lead changed hands multiple times in the first half, as neither team was able to pull ahead by more than three points. The period ended with a Cavaliers 3-pointer at the buzzer, allowing the visitors to take a 30-27 lead into the locker room.
 
Little changed in the early part of the second half. Parkland took what would be its largest lead of the game, 42-39, but Kankakee answered with a 10-0 run and the first significant lead of the game. The Cobras fought their way back to within one point, first at four minutes, then at two, and finally at 57-58, with 1:27 on the clock. A potential game-tying free throw was missed at that point.
 
For the next minute, the Cavaliers and Cobras traded field goals and free throws, each scoring 6 points, until only 11 seconds remained. Kankakee added a pair of free throws to take a four-point lead, but Parkland answered with a rebound dunk with only 2 seconds remaining. Though the Cavaliers missed their final two free throws, following a quick Parkland foul, the Cobras had no time to put up a quality shot.
 
While both teams shot 41% from the floor, Kankakee made 10 three-pointers, compared to only 5 from Parkland. The Cavaliers won the battle of the boards, 37-32, and the Cobras missed 8 free throws, shooting 58% from the stripe.
 
Along with Rivers, Savon Wykle (12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks) put up double figures on offense. Kelvin Swims Jr. (9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block) and Kamari Kenemore (5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) combined for seven of the team's twelve assists.
 
Up next, Parkland hosts the JV squad from Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) in Champaign, Ill., on Monday, February 8. Tip-off is scheduled at 6:00 pm.