EAST PEORIA, Ill.—January 7, 2026— In a hard-fought battle between two nationally ranked programs, the No. 5 Parkland College men's basketball team edged No. 20 Illinois Central College 76–74 on Wednesday night. The win pushes the Cobras to 14–2 on the season and marks one of Parkland's most complete performances in a high-pressure environment.

After a slow offensive start, Parkland responded with a strong second half, shooting 48.4% from the field and 58.3% from three-point range after the break to withstand Illinois Central's late push.

Grant Chamberlain delivered a huge performance, finishing with a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds while knocking down 6-of-7 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Kodhi McStraw added 17 points and 11 rebounds, recording a double-double of his own and providing key physicality on the glass.

Jaiden Martin scored 14 points and 6 rebounds contributed across the stat sheet in 36 minutes of play, while Chris Bush chipped in 9 points and 4 rebounds and significantly helped steady the Cobras during critical stretches. Off the bench, De'Shaun Tolever and Jiovanny Garcia each added 6 points, giving Parkland valuable depth in a tightly contested game.

Parkland finished the night with 45 total rebounds, 16 assists, and forced Illinois Central into 4 turnovers, helping the Cobras close out the narrow two-point victory.

Up next, the Cobras will return home to host Spoon River College on Friday, January 10, with tip off scheduled for 3 PM CST.

For more information about Parkland College Athletics, visit www.parklandcobras.com or follow @ParklandCobras on social media.