By Jami Sponaugle

Chicago, Ill. - A close contest through the whole 40 minutes of action, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks battled with the University of Chicago Maroons until the final buzzer. The non-conference contest consisted of five ties and eight lead changes between the Hawks (4-7, 2-2) and the Maroons (6-3,0-0). Ultimately, the Maroons were able to pull ahead and defeated the Hawks 62-59. 

First Half (Illinois Tech 38 - Chicago 33)

• After conceding an early free throw, the Hawks went up 5-1 on the Maroons to begin the game. The Hawks were able to hold a lead through the opening minutes, building up to an 8-point, 18-10 lead after a Caden Gigstad jump shot with 13:30 on the clock. After Gigstad's jumpshot, the Maroons fought their way back to tie the game, the first tie of the contest, at 18-18 with 11:34 remaining in the half. From there, every time the Hawks took the lead, the Maroon went back down the court to tie the game. With 5 minutes left in the half, the game was tied at 29-29. The Hawks were able to close out the half with the lead after three pointers by Milos Dugalic, Desmond Price, and Gigstad. 

Second Half (Chicago 29 - Illinois Tech 21)

• Coming out of the locker room, the Hawks were able to hold onto their lead through the first part of the second half while the Maroons fought to close in on the game. A layup by Dugalic at 14:53 remaining put the Hawks up by 10, with the scoreboard reading 49-39. A timeout by the Maroons at 14:45 seemed to be the turning point in the contest, as from 13:43 to 8:39 the Maroons went on a 12-0 run to take a 51-49 lead over the Hawks. Otis Reale was able to tie the game up at 8:17 with two free throws to stop the Maroons scoring streak. From there, the two sides went back-and-forth holding a 1-point game over the other. Then, in the final minute of the game, the Maroons pulled past the Hawks with two free throws to take the ultimate 62-59 victory. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Duglic led the Hawks while recording a double-double of 20 points, 13 rebounds. Dugalic also provided 1 assist and 1 block. 

• Coming off the bench, Price put down a career high 17 points. Price led the team with 4 steals and had 1 rebound. 

Maroon Standouts

• Bryce Hopkins led the Maroons with 17 points. Hopkins tied for the lead in rebounds, recording 7. He added 1 assist and 1 steal. 

• Joe Berry came off the bench to contribute 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block. 

Inside the Box Score

Up Next

The Hawks will be back in action inside the Keating Sports Center on Saturday as they return back to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action. The Hawks take on the Edgewood College Eagles at 2:00 p.m.