CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 4 Parkland College men's basketball team added another home win over Marshalltown Community College 78-61 at the Parkland Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, November 25. The Cobras (8-0) closed out the Tigers (1-7) on the defensive end, allowing just four points in the final five minutes to hold on and with their eighth game in a row to start the season. Parkland won the battle behind the arc, going 9-19 from three (47%) while holding Marshalltown to just 4-23 from deep (17%). Sophomore Jabryn Anderson led the Cobras in scoring with 19 points, and sophomore Isaac Mapson III grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in the win.
 
Parkland College head coach John Bowler credited his second unit after the game, saying, "I think our bench guys came in and gave us great minutes. That's been the attitude the last three or four weeks. We've had bench guys who have come in and played really well. Drew Lewis Jr. and Ken Sallee have been great the last couple of games, Tye Banks too."
 
"I think we've seen guys really explore and open up their roles to add extra minutes," Bowler added. "We just have to put ourselves in better situations, and we have to keep our composure."
 
The Cobras grabbed an early lead against the Tigers, and maintained it throughout a low-scoring first half, heading into halftime with a 36-26 lead as the Cobras held the visitors scoreless in the final 2:10 of the first half. Marshalltown responded quickly in the second half, trimming the Parkland lead to 40-38 with 15:36 remaining – forcing coach Bowler to call timeout. The Tigers took their first lead of the game, 44-42, with 13:08 to go, leading 48-46 before the Cobras answered with a 10-0 run to regain control with just under 10 minutes left. Marshalltown cut the deficit to five out of a timeout, but Parkland sophomore Ken Sallee buried a three with 5:34 on the clock on the next possession, keeping the Cobras in from 63-55. Decatur native Jabryn Anderson knocked down a dagger three-pointer with 2:46 remaining to put Parkland up 70-59, and the Cobras cruised to a 78-61 win.
 
Scoring Summary:
Jabryn Anderson: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
Ken Sallee: 14 points, 3 rebounds
Isaac Mapson III: 12 points, 8 rebounds
Tye Banks: 9 points
Brylan Phillips: 3 points, 7 assists
 
Up next, the Cobras take on Olive-Harvey College tomorrow, November 26, in the final game of the Parkland Thanksgiving Classic. Tip-off against the Panthers (0-4) is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Donald C. Dodds Jr. Athletic Complex.