Chicago, Ill. — Illinois Tech men's basketball returned to conference play, taking on MSOE Saturday afternoon at the Keating Sports Center. The Scarlet Hawks battled the Raiders in a close contest throughout the first half, but MSOE was able to extend their lead in the second half and pull away, downing the Hawks 86-69.
Illinois Tech now stands at 4-8 overall and 2-3 in NACC play. Meanwhile, the Raiders improve to 6-6 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
How It Happened
The game kicked off with MSOE seizing an early lead as Carson Cordelli hit two free throws just 22 seconds in. Illinois Tech had a slow start, allowing the Raiders to push their lead to 9-0 after Cordelli's layup at 16:52. But the Scarlet Hawks battled back when
Nicolas Ortiz nailed a three-pointer at 15:14, sparking a rally to tie it up at 9. MSOE regained momentum with a series of shots, including Mason Dopirak's jumper at 7:05, maintaining a slim edge. The Raiders led 35-31 at the break after Ethan Johnson's missed three was rebounded by Illinois Tech right before the buzzer.
In the second half, Illinois Tech struggled to contain MSOE's offense, resulting in a 51-38 advantage for the visitors. Isaac Wit opened the scoring with a jumper at 19:41, setting the tone for the Raiders' strong half. Johnson's layup at 18:07, part of a fast break, extended their lead to 41-31. Despite
Bryce Shoto's efforts, including a 3-pointer at 16:32, the Scarlet Hawks couldn't close the gap. Chase Cummings sealed the deal with a 3-pointer at 00:34, underscoring the Raiders' second-half performance.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
John Davis III
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- 19 points
- 7/9 free throws made
- 4 assists
- 2 steals
Nicolas Ortiz
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- 14 points
- 4/9 three-pointers made
- 2 steals
Garrison Carter
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- 13 points
- 4 rebounds
- 1 block
Bryce Shoto
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- 12 points
- 3/3 free throws made
- 1 steal
MSOE Top Performers
Mason Dopirak
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- 27 points
- 6/6 free throws made
- 12 rebounds
Chase Cummings
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- 16 points
- 6/8 free throws made
- 7 rebounds
- 2 steals
Isaac Wit
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- 11 points
- 1 block
- 4 rebounds
Game Notes:
- Illinois Tech scored 19 points off of MSOE turnovers.
- Illinois Tech is now 7-8 all-time against MSOE.
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Nicolas Ortiz has scored at least 14 points in two straight games.
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Isaiah Dudley hit a career-high with 9 points.
Up Next
The Scarlet Hawks face Aurora University at home on Wednesday, January 7th at 7 p.m. at the Keating Sports Center.
