Chicago, Ill. - Otis Reale scored 22 points in the first half, and the Illinois Tech men's basketball team rode a 48-19 halftime lead to a 71-53 victory over Concordia Chicago Monday night at the Keating Sports Center. The Scarlet Hawks improved to 8-11 overall and 7-6 in conference play. The Cougars dropped to 11-8 overall (8-5 NACC).

Reale, coming off a week in which he averaged 23 points over a two-game span, continued his torrid pace, finishing with 28 points to lead all scorers. 

The Hawks bounced back from their loss at St. Norbert on Saturday, which snapped the team's two-game winning streak. 

Illinois Tech shot 63 percent from the field in the first half, including six of ten from three-point range, to help blow the game open. Conversely, Concordia Chicago struggled in the first half, hitting only 28 percent from the field, while only converting one of their thirteen three-point attempts. 

The Hawks cooled off in the second half, with the Cougars outscoring them 34-23, but the deficit was too large for Concordia Chicago to overcome.

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Reale paced the Hawks with 28 points, shooting 11 of 19 from the field, three of six from three-point range, and made all three of his free-throw attempts.
• Milos Dugalic finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
• Caden Gigstad added nine points. 

Cougars Watch

• Izak Ruddell had 13 points and six rebounds.
• Jordan Matthews had 13 points and four rebounds.
• Emanuel Wilson had 10 points and four rebounds.

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks shot 50% from three-point range on 7-14 shooting. The Cougars finished at 25% from three (7-28). 
• The Hawks committed 9 fouls in the contest; the Cougars had 7 fouls.
• Illinois Tech was 6-7 from the free-throw line (86%). Concordia Chicago was 6-8 (75%).
• Calvin Schmitz was the minutes leader for the Hawks, playing 32 minutes. Matthews played 34 minutes for the Cougars.

Up Next

• The Scarlet Hawks are back on home court Wednesday, February 9th when Dominican University comes to the Keating Center at 7pm in a NACC matchup.