Lincoln Land Community College celebrated their Homecoming on Wednesday evening, but the men's basketball team was unable to keep the celebration going after dropping a tough, close contest to Rend Lake, 92-86.
The Loggers had a nice crowd to celebrate their Homecoming contest and early on they put on a show. Lincoln Land got the first three field goals of the game and lead by 8 points in the opening minutes. After a pair of free throws the Loggers led 12-8. The Warriors of Rend Lake then "won" the next 4:00 racing to an 11-0 run. The two teams played within a 6 point window for some time before the Warriors put together a 12-2 run to find themselves up 13 with 3:00 to go in the half. The Loggers cut back into the deficit, but still went in to half trailing, 42-31.
Rend Lake would build on that lead getting it to 15 on multiple occasions in the first 10:00 of the second half. The Loggers were then able to put together a run of their own going on a 10-2 run to get down to single digits. LLCC continued to chip away, but Rend Lake would respond each time. Lincoln Land would get within 5, but Rend Lake would respond with a score. A few possessions later a three pointer would get the game within just 3 points. But Lincoln Land could never get any closer. The definitive stretch came with just over 4:00 to play, after the Loggers got within 3, Rend Lake rattled off 8 straight points to go back up double digits. Lincoln Land stayed right on the tails off Rend Lake fighting back to as close as 5, but the Warriors either would get a bucket or free throws to keep themselves clear. The Loggers got a bucket right at the buzzer, but fell 92-86.
Rebounding was the downfall on the evening for LLCC. Lincoln Land was out rebounded 35-14 allowing Rend Lake many second chance points and not allowing the Loggers to put together enough stops to get back in the contest. The Loggers did shoot a season best 48% from three and had five different Loggers hit threes.
Camden Nelson led the team in scoring with 21, one off a career high and the second time he had eclipsed the 20 point mark. Freshmen Stephen Braun had a career night getting 18 with 4 three pointers knocked in. Freshmen and team leading scorer AJ Tillman ended with 11 for one of the best balanced scoring nights for the Loggers this semester. Two others just missed the 10 point mark, freshmen Joshua Banks and Nate Moore both ended with 9.
Lincoln Land drops to 3-22 on the season and are 1-11 in NJCAA Region 24 play for postseason.
The Loggers take their last road trip of the regular season this weekend to take on conference leading Parkland Community College on Saturday afternoon in Champaign.
