Chicago, Ill. - Otis Reale scored a career-high 40 points, Milos Dugalic added 24 points, and the Illinois Tech men's basketball team powered their way past Dominican for a 79-62 victory Wednesday night at the Keating Sports Center. The Scarlet Hawks improved to 9-11 overall and 8-6 in conference play. The Stars dropped to 2-19 overall (1-14 NACC).
Over his last four games, Reale has scored 20, 26, 28 and 40 points respectively. During that same period, he is shooting 65 percent from the field (42 of 65) and 66 percent from three-point range (12/18).
The Hawks have now won four of their last five games, and are two games over .500 in the conference for the first time all season.
Illinois Tech shot 52 percent from the field in the first half en route to a 36-24 lead at the break. The Stars closed their deficit to two points halfway through the second stanza, but the Hawks responded with a 10-2 run to retake command of the game and close out the victory. The Hawks wound up shooting 54 percent from the field for the game and 55 percent from three-point range.
Scarlet Hawk Standouts
- Reale paced the Hawks with 40 points, shooting 14 of 20 from the field, three of three from three-point range, and was nine of nine from the free-throw stripe.
- Dugalic finished with 24 points, and 11 rebounds.
- Caden Gigstad added nine points.
Stars Watch
- Jackson Smith had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists.
- Robert Taylor had 13 points and four rebounds.
Inside the Box Score
- The Hawks shot 55% from three-point range on 6-11 shooting. The Stars finished at 48% from three (7-15).
- Each team committed 12 fouls in the contest.
- Illinois Tech was 15-15 from the free-throw line (100%). Dominican was 11-12 (92%).
- Reale and Dugalic were the minutes leader for the Hawks, with 34 minutes each. Smith played 40 minutes for the Stars.
Up Next
- The Scarlet Hawks continue their homestand on Saturday, February 12th, when Wisconsin Lutheran comes to the Keating Center at 4:15pm in a NACC matchup on Senior Day.