Box Score Monmouth finished strong to post a Midwest Conference opening 65-63 win over Illinois College.
Illinois College led most of the way and enjoyed a 31-29 halftime lead before the Scots erased a nine-point second half deficit. After the Blueboys got up by nine with 12 minutes left in the game, the Scots put on a 15-5 run and took the lead on Wes Dukeman’s two free throws with 2:47 left on the way to an 18-point, 10 rebound night.
The teams traded baskets the rest of the way needing free throws to settle the outcome. Nursing a 62-61 lead with 16 seconds left, the Scots increased the lead to three on a pair of Wes DeClerqc free throws. Monmouth iced the game after Mike DeDecker made one of two free throws with seven seconds remaining after he rebounded an IC miss and was fouled for a four point advantage.
DeDecker finished with 12 points and Nick Marema added 12.