The Monmouth College men’s basketball team rallied from down double digits in the first half to beat Lawrence 75-62 on the road on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (13-4, 8-0) held the Vikings to 32 percent shooting from the field in the second half, including 25 percent from 3-point range.
“I’m extremely happy with how we responded to a shaky start on the road today,” said head coach Todd Skrivseth. “Our defense and rebounding in the second half was outstanding. Offensively it took a while but we eventually got the ball moving and found our rhythm.”
Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) scored on Monmouth’s first possession but the Scots went more than four minutes without another point as Lawrence led 9-2. Zay Brown (Peoria, Illinois) scored four straight and after a Vikings 3-pointer, Brown scored again. The Vikings went on a 5-0 run to lead 17-8 before Jase Whiteman (Andalusia, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer. Down 22-11, the Scots got a 3-pointer from Connor Watson (Macomb, Illinois) but Lawrence answered. Maring made two free throws and Cameron Thomas (Arlington, Texas) scored five points but the Scots still trailed 32-21. Brown scored the next four and Thomas answered a Vikings bucket with a 3-pointer. Brown scored the final points of the half with Monmouth down 37-30 at the break.
Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) started the second half with a 3-pointer and Brown answered a Vikings bucket. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer to make it a 1-point game for the first time since it was 3-2. Brown tied the game at 41 with a 3-pointer but the Vikings knocked down one of their own. Maring scored four straight and Payton Crims (Alsip, Illinois) put the Scots on top for good with a layup with 14:02 to play. Brown added a 3-point play and Thomas made two free throws for a 11-0 Monmouth run.
Leading 54-48, Brown scored four points and Whiteman hit a jumper to put the Scots up 12. Crims made two buckets and Taylor added one as the Scots led by 11 with three minutes to play. After Lawrence scored, Huber made two free throws and Brown threw down a dunk with 1:30 to play for a 72-59 lead. Taylor pushed the lead to 15 with free throws and after Lawrence scored, Huber finished the scoring with a free throw.
“Jason (Huber) locked up CJ Campbell after he hit five tough 3’s in the first half and Zay also played tremendous defense on Schoenecker and limited his effectiveness,” said Skrivseth. “Payton Crims’ performance in the second half really helped ignite our comeback.”
Brown led the Scots with 28 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Thomas scored 10 points and Taylor added nine. Huber had eight rebounds and four assists wile Taylor had three assists.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Brown has scored in double digits in every game he has played this season and in 27 straight games dating back to last season … The 27-game streak is the second longest in Monmouth history, four behind the record … Thomas has scored at least 10 points in 11 straight games and he has 15 double digit games this season … Taylor played in his 94th career game, tied for fifth in Monmouth history with Brant Carius The 8-0 start in conference is the best since the 1989-90 team went undefeated as MWC Champions at 13-0 … The senior class has won 60 games over four years, the most in 33 years and tied for 12th amongst all senior classes in MC history … Monmouth had 20 assists on 27 made baskets … The Scots turned the ball over just seven times … Monmouth leads the all-time series 80-49, including an 81-75 win at home on Dec. 13 … The Scots are 12-14 against Lawrence under coach Skrivseth with a 6-8 mark on the road … Monmouth also swept the 2024-25 season series … Monmouth is at Lake Forest on Wednesday and the next home game is Jan. 27 against Cornell.
The Monmouth College women’s basketball team lost 73-26 at Lawrence on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (5-12, 1-7) were held to a season-low in scoring in the loss.
Lawrence jumped out to a 6-0 lead before Jamaica Walker (Mobile, Alabama) made a layup. The Vikings again scored six in a row before Walker scored. Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois) and Layla Rice (Rock Island, Illinois) scored before the end of the quarter with Lawrence up 12-8.
Brooklyn Sellers (Freeport, Illinois) scored a 3-point play early in the second quarter before the Vikings went on a 19-0 run to end the half with a 33-11 lead.
Lawrence scored the first five of the third quarter as well, turning the run into a 24-0 run as the Scots went 11:30 without scoring before Sellers made two free throws. Lawrence scored the next 13 points to lead 51-13 before Rice hit a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in the quarter.
Lawrence started the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run before Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) made two free throws. Averi Rangel (Moline, Illinois) made a layup and when Stearns scored with 2:19 left, Lawrence led 69-22. They scored the next four to lead by 51 before Walker made a layup and Ava Pelaez (Aurora, Colorado) hit a jumper with 13 seconds left.
Walker led the Scots with six points while Sellers and Rice had five each. Sellers led the team with seven rebounds while Stearns had two assists and three steals. Tiah Riggs (Vincennes, Indiana) had Monmouth’s only block.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Stearns now has 93 career steals … She moved past Zoie Wall and Tarae Warner into 14th on the career 3-pointers attempted list … Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) played in her 92nd career game, tied with six others for 10th in Monmouth history … Monmouth was 1-for-18 from 3-point range and 5-for-12 at the free throw lineMonmouth scored 29 points at Cornell on Jan. 3, the previous season low … The tally is the lowest since Monmouth scored 25 against Western Illinois in 2001 and the lowest against a Division III team since scoring 14 against Coe in the 1974-74 season … The Scots lead the all-time series 29-24 and are 25-10 in the last 35However Lawrence has won six in a row … The Scots play at Lake Forest on Wednesday … The next home game in Jan. 27 against Cornell.
***Courtesy of Nathan Baliva, Monmouth College***
