For the fourth straight game, Monmouth held the opposition under 65 points in a 73-61 win over Illinois College Wednesday night in Glennie Gym to move into a tie for fifth in the Midwest Conference, just one spot out of a conference tournament berth.

Trailing 32-30 at the intermission, the Scots shot 13-of-19 from the floor in the second half, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range to move up the league ladder. Trey Swearingen came off the bench to give Monmouth the lead at 37-34 with a 3-pointer at the 16:39 left in the game. A pair of Will Carius free throws three minutes later pushed the Scots' lead to 47-41 before the Blueboys regained the lead with a 9-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer. Monmouth took the lead for good on another Carius free throw and Justin Batterton's layup with 8:58 to play that made it 53-50 Monmouth. The Scots stretched the lead to double digits on Jonathan Oradiegwu's jumper in the paint for a 63-53 lead at the 3:17 mark. A pair of D.J. Swift free throws iced the game with 38 seconds left as Monmouth improved to 4-1 in January.

Carius led all scorers with 27 points, Swift added 15 and Oradiegwu, who pulled down nine rebounds, added 10 points.

Monmouth plays at Lake Forest Saturday in a 5 p.m. tipoff.