Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Parkland College men's basketball team opened conference play at home against No. 19 Danville Area Community College on Wednesday, January 18th, as the Cobras fell short, 73-67, against the Jaguars. Parkland held a two-point lead over DACC at halftime, but the team could not finish the job against their rivals in a game that featured eight ties and nine lead changes. Decatur native Brylan Phillips (15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists) led the Cobras in scoring and assists in the team's first home loss since mid-November.
 
"At this point, right now, we're just not where we need to be," head coach John Bowler said after the game. "We have to continue to show that consistency and stop turning the ball over under pressure. Danville did a good job, credit to them."
 
The Cobras (8-7) (0-1) quickly fell behind, 12-4, against the 19th-ranked Jaguars (13-3) (2-0) in the first half, but back-to-back threes from sophomore Clovis Gallon Jr. put Parkland ahead 15-14 with 9:43 until halftime. The Cobras led by as many as nine points after Jabryn Anderson made a layup with 5:46 remaining in the first, but the Jaguars closed the deficit before halftime, and Parkland went into the break leading 31-29. In the second half, the two teams traded the lead for the first ten minutes before DACC broke off a 10-0 run, and Parkland called a timeout, trailing 57-50 with 6:51 left. The Cobras didn't let the Jaguars off the hook, hitting three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to cut the visitors' lead to 63-62 with 3:31 remaining. DACC answered with a three of their own, however, and Parkland went cold in the closing stages, losing 73-67 in the conference opener.
 
Statistical Overview:
Brylan Phillips: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists
Clovis Gallon Jr.: 12 points, 3-4 3PT, 2 steals
Jabryn Anderson: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Sean Ealy: 9 points
 
Up next, Parkland will look to bounce back against John Wood Community College on Saturday, January 21st. Tip-off against the Blazers (11-8) (1-0) is scheduled for 3:00 PM.