The Carl Sandburg College men’s basketball team had five players finish in double figures and rode a red-hot first half to a 79-58 victory over Rock Valley on Saturday afternoon at John M. Lewis Gymnasium.
The Chargers (8-1) — among others receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II rankings — shot 63 percent (17 of 27) from the floor in the first half, including 9 of 12 from 3-point range against the Golden Eagles (5-5), last season’s national runner-up in Division III.
KEY MOMENTS
- Trailing 19-16 midway through the first half, Sandburg erupted for a 17-0 run in a span of 5 minutes, 10 seconds and held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. Freshman Jean Luc Wilson (East Moline, Ill./United Township) started the run with a 3-pointer and scored eight of his 14 points during the game-turning stretch. The Chargers got field goals from four different players during the run.
- Six Chargers hit 3s in the first half as they built a 45-26 lead at the break. Sandburg led by as much 24 in the second half.
SANDBURG STANDOUT
Facing his hometown team, sophomore guard Scott Gowan (Rockford, Ill./Rockford East) matched Wilson for the team lead with 14 points, tied for the team lead with three steals and dished out a Sandburg-best five assists. He scored 11 in the first half on 4-of-4 shooting, with three of those coming from beyond the arc. Gowan added an NBA-range trey in the second half, finishing 5 of 8 from the floor and 4 of 6 from long distance.
OTHER TOP CHARGERS
- Wilson scored 14, added four rebounds and had two assists.
- Sophomore forward James Jones (Springfield, Ill./Lanphier) had 12 points, 2 assists and matched Gowan’s three steals.
- Sophomore Carter Fayhee (Macomb, Ill./Macomb) had 12 points and four rebounds.
- Freshman forward Cody Baer (Dunlap, Ill./Dunlap) finished with 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
FOR THE GOLDEN EAGLES
- Michael McDermott 14 points
- Ja’Quan Chestnut 13 points
UP NEXT FOR SANDBURG
7:30 p.m. vs. Monmouth JV
***Report Courtesy of Carl Sandburg College***
