Chicago, Ill. - In their first contest of the new year, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's basketball team welcomed the Edgewood College Eagles to the Keating Sports Center for a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) contest. Outside of the first minute and a half of action, the Hawks (3-10, 2-4) led the entirety of the first and headed into the locker room leading the Eagles (6-7, 5-2) 38-36. After halftime, the Eagles were able to turn the lead around in their favor. At the final buzzer, the Eagles defeated the Hawks 85-70. 

First Half (Illinois Tech 38 - Edgewood 36)

• After a brief tie to begin the game, the Hawks took the lead at 18:30 off a Garrison Carter layup. For the remainder of the half, the Hawks led the Eagles. At 15:24, the Eagles came within two before the Hawks Dario Biaggi nailed a three pointer at 14:29 to give the Hawks a 15-10 lead. Between 13:04 and 11:32, neither side would record a basket. The Eagles broke the scoreless streak with a layup before the Hawks Andrew Veon answered with one of his own. Here the Hawks ed 20-17. Another scoreless streak would follow between 9:13 and 7:36. At 7:35, a layup for the Eagles broke the drought. A 6:44 remaining, Caden Gigstad made a jumper to give the Hawks their largest lead of the game as they led the Eagles 31-22. The Hawks stayed ahead for the remainder of the half and headed into the locker room leading the Eagles 38-36.  

Second Half (Illinois Tech 70 - Edgewood 85)

•  Coming out of halftime, the Eagles tied the contest at 38-38 with a layup. Biaggi quickly answered, hitting a three to put the Hawks back ahead. After an Eagle dunk, Biaggi hit another three pointer. Here, at the 18:38 mark, the Hawks led the Eagles 44-40. At 14:49, the Eagles took the lead from the Hawks with a layup to make the score 51-48. Back-to-back layups by Andrew Veon and Biaggi put the Hawks back ahead 52-51 with 13:41 remaining. The Eagles would take the lead for the Hawks and hold onto it until the Hawks tied the game and took back the lead. Two free throws at 9:15 by Nicolas Ortiz tied the game and gave the Hawks a 59-58 lead. Joshua Iguade extended the lead with a layup at 8:37. The two sides ended up in a tie once again, this time at 7:16 after an Eagle layup made the score 63-63. Between 7:15 and 5:32, the two sides went through another scoreless streak. A three pointer for the Eagles broke the streak and gave them the lead. This three pointer began a 22-7 run to close out the game. At the final buzzer, the Eagles defeated the Hawks 85-70. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Dario Biaggi - 20 points, 8-of-13 (61.5%) from the field, 4-of-8 (50.0%) from three, 3 rebounds, 2 assists. 3 steals

• Andrew Veon - 15 points, 7-of-12 (58.3%) from the field, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Eagles Standouts

• Drew Houtakker - 25 points, 12-of-16 (75.0%) from the field, 1-of-1 (100%) from three, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 2 steals

• Cade Ellingson - 24 points, 9-of-17 (52.9%) from the field, 4-of-8 (50.0%) from three, 2-of-5 (40.0%) from the free throw line, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals

• Trey Traeder - 17 points, 6-of-14 (42.9%) from the field, 3-of-8 (37.5%) from three, 2-of-2 (100%) from the free throw line, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 1 steal 

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks were 30-of-59 (50.8%) from the field, 7-of-22 (31.8%) from three, and 3-of-7 (42.9%) from the free throw line

• The Eagles were 35-of-64 (54.7) from the field, 10-of-20 (50.0%) from three, and 5-of-9 (55.6%) from the free throw line

• The Hawks out-rebounded the Eagles 33-28

• Both sides recorded 46 points in the paint

Up Next

On Saturday, January 6, the Hawks will be on the road in Rockford, Ill. to take on the Rockford University Regents in NACC action. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.