Box Score Monmouth sits alone in third place in the Midwest Conference standings after a 92-86 win over stubborn Illinois College.

The Fighitng Scots fought off nine ties and eight lead changes to keep IC winless in the league while improving to 5-1 in conference play. Held to just two points over the first half, Will Jones erupted for 21 second half points, including a 4-for-4 performance from the free throw line in the final seven seconds to help hold off the Blue Boys.

Trailing 69-67 with 8:05 left, Ross Langlois' bucket inside pulled the Scots even. Andrew Mathison's tip-in on the next possession gave the Scots the lead for good. A pair of free throws from Jon Calhoun and six straight points from Jones upped the Scots margin to nine at 81-72 with 3:24 left.

IC then made another charge, cutting the margin to four at 84-80 with 1:32 remaining before the Scots again responded, taking a seven point margin on  a Jones free throw with 20 seconds left.

Jones' 23 points lef four in double figures as Mathison recorded 10 points and 11 boards, Nick Marema added 15 while hitting four of his six 3-pointers and Calhoun added 14 with a 6-for-7 night from the free throw line.