The Monmouth College men’s basketball team lost to last place Lake Forest 71-66 at home on Tuesday night. The Scots (11-8, 5-5) have lost two games in a row as they prepare to host rival Knox this weekend.
Jordan Hill (Chicago, Illinois) scored the first five points for the Fighting Scots with a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper. Turner Plumer (Canton, Illinois) scored in the lane before the Foresters finally got on the board. Hill and Plumer both added baskets as the Scots pushed the lead to 11-5. Plumer scored inside and Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) had a put back to give the Scots a 15-11 lead. Ganon Greenman (Alpha, Illinois) answered a Foresters bucket and Huber scored on a give-and-go with Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois). David Williams (Loves Park, Illinois) hit a runner but the Foresters answered with a run to take a 25-21 lead.
Plumer scored to end the run but the visitors scored the next four points to lead 29-23. Greenman converted a 3-point play and Hill tied the game with a 3-pointer from the left wing. Williams hit a 3-pointer to give the Scots a 32-31 lead and Plumer scored on the next possession. Both teams missed free throws and turned the ball over before Lake Forest tied the game with one minute left in the half. They turned another Scots turnover into a layup before getting a steal and basket at the first half buzzer for a 39-35 lead.
Plumer scored the first four Monmouth points of the second half but Lake Forest extended to a 46-39 lead. Hill converted a 3-point play during a personal 7-0 run to tie the game at 46. After Lake Forest regained the lead, Huber hit a 3-pointer and Plumer scored in the lane for a 51-48 Monmouth lead. Maring scored in the lane and Williams knocked down a 3-pointer for a 56-48 lead as Lake Forest called timeout with 12:21 to play.
Williams hit another 3-pointer for a 59-50 lead before LFC scored the next six points. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) made a free throw and Plumer scored in the lane for a 62-58 lead. Plumer answered a Foresters bucket to get to 20 points and Huber made a free throw with 2:17 to play for a 65-62 lead. Lake Forest tied the game with a 3-pointer, stole the ball and scored again for a 67-65 lead. Williams split free throws and the clock ticked under one minute to play. Down three, the Scots missed a layup and Lake Forest hit two free throws. Monmouth missed a 3-pointer and Lake Forest held on for the 71-66 win..
Plumer scored 20 points while Hill had 17 and Williams added 13. Huber and Williams led the Scots with five rebounds each and Greenman had four assists.
MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Hill has scored in double figures 12 times this season, five times in MWC action. Plumer has scored in double figures nine times, including five MWC games. Hill had 15 and Plumer had 22 in the first game against Lake Forest. Plumer was 10-for-12 from the field. Williams has been in double figures five times. Lake Forest won the battle of the boards 33-24. Monmouth was 6-for-11 at the free throw line. Monmouth won the first meeting this season 75-62 at Lake Forest on Nov. 28. The Scots are 38-55 all-time against Lake Forest. Monmouth is 11-12 against LFC in the Coach Skrivseth era, 6-6 at home. Monmouth had won three straight and are 5-5 in the last 10 games. The Scots are home again on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Knox.
***Courtesy of Nathan Baliva, Monmouth College***
