Monmouth battled back from a double-digit first half deficit, but couldn't get over the hump in the final 20 minutes, dropping an 80-61 decision to Lake Forest at Glennie Gym Wednesday night.
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The Foresters used a late first half surge to take a 45-31 lead into the locker room, but the Scots rallied in the second half, cutting the margin to 52-47 with an 8-0 run.
Tyler Houston's old-fashioned 3-point play ignited the Scots at the 15:57 mark as
Justin Batterton followed with a pair of free throws on the next possession following a Houston steal. Batterton added a jumper a minute later and
Jonathan Oradiegwu's bucket-and-one completed the surge with 13:07 left.
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Lake Forest answered with a pair of threes and two free throws over the next two minutes to regain the double figure lead, but Monmouth had one last run left. Two
Jake Rueter steals, combined with 3-pointers from
D.J. Swift and
Will Carius pulled the Scots within six at 60-54 at the 8:37 mark, but that would be as close as the Scots would come when the Foresters ran off 10 unanswered points.
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Carius posted his fourth double-double of the season, pumping in 22 points to go with 11 rebounds.
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The Scots resume play Monday with a road trip to Coe. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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