CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 5 Parkland College men's basketball team added another conference win with a 78-62 victory over Illinois Central College on Wednesday, January 31. The Cobras (20-2) (5-1) continued their strong stretch of play versus the Cougars (12-8) (2-3), building a big lead in the second half and tallying 22 assists while cruising to their fourth straight win. Sophomore Tye Banks (23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) led all scorers in the win.
 
"I really liked our resiliency in the second half. I think our team played well on both ends of the court, and it showed," head coach John Bowler said after the game. "I think our discipline and attention to detail, staying fundamentally sound and staying locked in really helped us build that lead. When we do that consistently, we're really good."
 
The two teams traded the lead early in the first half before Parkland exploded for a 12-0 run to take a 19-9 lead with 10:28 on the clock. ICC battled back before halftime, but the Cobras closed with a 42-31 lead and all the momentum on their side. Parkland continued to distance itself in the second half, building a 53-33 lead five minutes in, and forced an ICC timeout with 14:47 to go. The Cobras maintained a 20-point lead for most of the second half, leading by as many as 24 points with 4:30 left, but a late 11-0 run from the Cougars cut the lead to 73-60 with 2:12 remaining. Parkland played it cool in the closing stages, milking the clock and getting stops, and the Cobras closed out the Cougars in a 78-62 win.
 
Scoring Summary:
Tye Banks: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Jabryn Anderson: 12 points, 3 assists
Ken Sallee: 10 points, 3 rebounds
JaMonte Williams: 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists
Brylan Phillips: 2 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
 
Up next, the Cobras host Rock Valley College at the Donald C. Dodds Jr. Athletic Complex on Saturday, February 3. Tip-off against the Eagles (15-5) is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.