Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland College men's basketball team found themselves in another close game down the stretch on Wednesday, November 30th, this time pulling out a 76-72 win in overtime over the Rend Lake Warriors in the team's first Region 24 matchup of the season. The Cobras led at halftime, but the Warriors' offense caught fire in the second half to force overtime and put the pressure on. High-pressure experience paid off in the end for the Cobras, as the team narrowly avoided the Warriors' comeback and secured its second straight win. Parkland freshman Jabryn Anderson led all scorers off the bench with 22, and Chicago native Don Coats III recorded a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds) in the win.
"None of these games are ever easy in-region," Parkland College head coach John Bowler said after the win. "We've learned from experiences where we lost close games in the past. I know that these guys are starting to feel like they can close games, and we need to carry it on."
The Cobras (2-5) struck first, leading 5-0 early, but the Warriors (2-3) battled back to take an 8-7 lead with 13:42 to go in the half. The Cobras regained the lead thanks to a Jabryn Anderson and-one on the next possession, and a 10-0 Parkland run gave the team a 17-8 lead with just under nine minutes remaining. Rend Lake trimmed the deficit down to four with 4:29 left, but Parkland finished the half strong, building a 33-20 lead by halftime. Sophomore Khris Green paced the Cobras in the opening half, leading the way with 10 points on a perfect 5-5 from the field.
In the second half, Parkland struggled early, allowing Rend Lake back into the game, and the Warriors took the lead back, 47-46, with 6:47 to go. The two teams traded punches down the stretch, and after Jabryn Anderson hit a three with just under four minutes to go, the Cobras led 56-52. The game intensified with every made basket, and in a battle of free throws with less than a minute remaining, Rend Lake tied the game, 64-64, with 2.5 seconds left and forced overtime.
Parkland got an early 70-66 lead in overtime, but Rend Lake would not go away, tying the game at 70 with 1:12 remaining. On the next possession, sophomore Sean Ealy worked his way inside and finished a layup through contact, drawing a foul and converting a crucial and-one to give the Cobras a 73-70 lead with 42 seconds to go in the game. Late turnovers plagued the Warriors, and the Cobras narrowly squeaked out the 76-72 victory in an intense regional matchup.
Statistical Overview:
Jabryn Anderson: 22 points, 2 blocks
Donald Coats III: 11 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks
Brylan Phillips: 11 points, 2 steals
Sean Ealy: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Khris Green: 10 points
Up next, the Cobras head to St. Louis, Missouri, on Sunday, December 4th, to take on Missouri State-West Plains at a neutral site. Tipoff against the Grizzlies (4-7) is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Sunday at St. Louis Community College-Meramec in Kirkwood, Missouri.
