Chicago, Ill — Illinois Tech Men's Basketball fell to St. Norbert College 63-53 at the Keating Sports Center on Wednesday night. Both teams pulled down 34 rebounds, but the Green Knights took advantage of turnovers, netting 15 points from Illinois Tech's 12 errors. Illinois Tech now stands at 4-5 overall and 2-2 in NACC play. Meanwhile, the Green Knights improve to 6-2 overall and remain unbeaten in the NACC at 4-0.
How It Happened
Illinois Tech kicked off the scoring with a three-pointer from
Obrad Kuzmanovic, assisted by
Nicolas Ortiz, just 19 seconds into the game. St. Norbert answered back quickly with Cole Uhlenbrauck's layup, setting the scene for a competitive first half. Ryan Cox proved crucial for the Green Knights, sinking a three-pointer at 17:56 and following up with multiple layups, helping establish a 31-20 halftime lead. Despite efforts from
John Davis III, including a layup and a free throw at 6:27, the Green Knights held firm, highlighted by Will Stuckey's free throws in the final seconds, closing the half with an 11-point cushion.
In the second half, the Green Knights edged out the Scarlet Hawks, securing a 63-53 win.
Obrad Kuzmanovic was vital for Illinois Tech, narrowing the gap to two with a crucial layup at 6:29. However, St. Norbert's Cox came through late in the game, sinking a three-pointer at 14:48 and a layup with just 30 seconds left, extending their lead.
Garrison Carter kept Illinois Tech in the fight with two three-pointers, but the Green Knights' defense and timely scoring sealed their victory.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
Obrad Kuzmanovic
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- 14 points
- 5/9 field goals made
- 3 rebounds
Nicolas Ortiz
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- 8 rebounds
- 4 assists
- 2 steals
Garrison Carter
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- 12 points
- 11 rebounds
- 2/2 free throws made
Owen Walsh
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- 8 points
- 1 steal
- 3/5 field goals made
St. Norbert Top Performers
Ryan Cox
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- 23 points
- 3/6 three-pointers made
- 6 rebounds
Cam Lathos
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- 11 points
- 5 rebounds
Connor Pytleski
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- 5 points
- 2 blocks
- 5 rebounds
Mason Freiburger
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- 10 points
- 5/5 field goals made
- 5 rebounds
Game Notes:
- Illinois Tech has now dropped to 1-6 all-time against the Green Knights, enduring four consecutive losses.
- Kuzmanovic achieved a career-high with 14 points.
Up Next
Illinois Tech will head to warmer weather as they travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico to face Catholic University on Saturday, Dec. 20, with tip-off at 9:30 a.m CT.
