Williams, Metcalf also in double figures for Monmouth
MONMOUTH, ILL. (01/25/2023) The Monmouth College men’s basketball team finished a season sweep of Lake Forest with a 68-62 road win on Wednesday night. The Fighting Scots (11-8, 7-3) ended a two-game slide with a career-high 21 points from sophomore Declan Flynn (Monmouth, Illinois) to stay in second place in the Midwest Conference.
The Scots got off to a quick start as Jordan Metcalf (Aledo, Illinois) made two free throws, David Williams (Loves Park, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer and Kendall Brasfield (Chicago, Illinois) had a layup for a 7-3 lead. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) made it 9-3 and Flynn scored the next five points. Williams, Metcalf and Jordan Hill (Chicago, Illinois) also scored as the Scots went on top 19-9. Lake Forest went on a 20-0 run for a 29-19 lead before Metcalf scored with 6:22 left in the half. Flynn hit a 3-pointer but the Foresters pushed the lead to 33-24. Williams scored the next five points for the Scots and Metcalf got a bucket to cut the Foresters halftime lead to 38-31.
The Scots trailed by nine when Williams made a free throw early in the second half and Flynn scored in the paint. Flynn hit a 3-pointer for a 40-37 deficit and Yuvraj Sidhu (Coppell, Texas) followed with a bucket in the lane. Flynn and Williams scored to put Monmouth on top 43-42 and the Scots followed with a 9-1 run to go on top 52-43 with 10:48 to play. Hill and Brasfield scored to push the lead to 12 and the lead grew to 13 with 4:48 to go. The Foresters got a mini run to get within seven at the one minute mark before Hill made a free throw. Lake Forest scored on two straight possessions to cut the lead to 64-60 with 29 seconds left. Flynn made two free throws and after the hosts scored, Williams drained both of his free throws with 19 seconds left for a 68-62 lead. Metcalf blocked a shot with seven seconds left and the Scots ran out the clock for the six-point win.
Flynn finished with 21 points as he knocked down 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Metcalf posted another double-double with 12 points and a team-leading 14 rebounds while Williams made 7-of-9 from the line to finish with 19 points. Metcalf added two blocks while both Williams and Brasfield had two steals.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: The Scots won at home 75-68 in November to get the season sweep for the first time since the 2014-15 season. The teams are an even 5-5 in the last 10 games head-to-head. Flynn’s previous career high was 14 points at Beloit on Dec. 3. His three made 3-pointers tied a season high from Nov. 26 against Dubuque and his eight made field goals are a new career-best. Metcalf has scored at least 10 points in 15 games this season. He also has at least five rebounds in 18 of the 19 games. He has a double-double in four of the last five games and seven total on the season. Williams has scored at least 19 points in three games in January. He has made at least two 3-pointers in five of the last seven games. Williams also tied his career high with eight rebounds. Monmouth out-rebounded Lake Forest 44-29. The Scots head to Knox on Saturday and play after the women’s 1 p.m. game against the Prairie Fire.
***Story and photo courtesy of Monmouth College***
