Chicago, Ill— Illinois Tech fell to Lake Forest 87-74 on Wednesday at Keating Sports Center. The Scarlet Hawks were led by a strong defensive effort with 10 steals and four blocks, but the Foresters' advantage in rebounding, particularly 37 total boards, helped secure their victory. The game saw Illinois Tech trail by 17 points at halftime, and despite a 45-point second half, the comeback fell short. Illinois Tech is now 0-3 overall. The Foresters hold a 1-3 record for the season.
How It Happened
The first half began with the Foresters taking an early lead as Alex Brown's layup at 19:25 marked the first points of the half. Illinois Tech kept the game close initially, with a three-pointer from
Garrison Carter at 18:27 giving them a brief one-point advantage. However, Lake Forest responded with a series of successful plays, including a three-pointer by Anthony Favia at 12:26 that expanded their lead. By halftime, the Foresters held a 46-29 advantage, bolstered by strong performances from Cristian Rodriguez, who contributed with both scoring and assists.
Illinois Tech opened the second half by countering Lake Forest's early dunk with a layup from Carter. Carter's subsequent defensive efforts, including a steal, helped keep the pace steady.
Isaiah Dudley's block and Walsh's three-pointer at 18:23 sparked a brief momentum shift, cutting into the opponent's lead. Ortiz maintained pressure with a fast-break layup at 17:54 following a steal by Carter, narrowing the gap further. However, Lake Forest responded with a series of three-pointers, extending their lead once again. Despite a pair of three-pointers from Galati, Illinois Tech faced a challenging deficit. Galati continued to contribute with a layup at 11:57, and a series of successful free throws by Ortiz and Carter helped stabilize the score. However, the Foresters maintained their advantage through consistent scoring, including free throws and layups, ultimately closing the half with a lead. The half ended with Illinois Tech trailing 87-74, after reducing the deficit slightly with a late layup from Davis III.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Garrison Carter
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- 22 points
- 8 field goals made
- 2 steals
Nicolas Ortiz
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- 13 points
- 5/7 free throws made
- 4 assists
John Davis III
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- 9 points
- 5 assists
- 2 steals
Isaiah Dudley
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- 6 points
- 2 blocks
- 5 rebounds
Lake Forest Top Performers
Marko Visnjevac
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- 20 points
- 4/5 three-pointers made
- 3 steals
Alex Brown
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- 12 points
- 6/8 free throws made
- 3 assists
Coltrane Marchand
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- 6 points
- 4 assists
- 5 rebounds
Cristian Rodriguez
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- 23 points
- 7/8 free throws made
- 8 rebounds
Game Notes:
- The Scarlet Hawks fell to 0-4 lifetime versus the Foresters.
Up Next
Their next game will take place after Thanksgiving against Lakeland University on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. in Plymouth, Wis.
