Four in Double Figures as Scots Win Fourth in a Row

By Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, ILL. The Monmouth College men's basketball team won their fourth game in a row with an 86-61 home win over Eureka on Saturday. The Fighting Scots (4-1) outscored the Red Devils by 16 in the second half and put four players in double digits

"It was good to get a win on our home court today," said head coach Todd Skrivseth. "We talked about some things at halftime and it was good to see the team made the adjustments."

Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) scored Monmouth's first four points with a bucket and two free throws. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) put the Scots on top for the first time as he hit a 3-pointer for a 7-5 lead. Cam Thomas (Arlington, Texas) hit a 3-pointer, two buckets from Zay Brown (Peoria, Illinois and another Taylor 3-pointer made it 17-7. Eureka went on a mine run before Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer. The Red Devils tied the game at 24 and scored again for a 26-24 lead. Taylor hit another 3-pointer, Thomas scored in the paint and Payton Crims (Alsip, Illinois) hit his second 3-pointer of the half for a 32-26 lead. Thomas hit a 3-pointer and threw down a dunk before Brown made two free throws to give the Scots an 11-point lead. Maring scored in the post and the Scots took a 41-32 lead into the locker room.

Brown started the half with a free throw and a jumper before Huber scored on a great pass by Taylor. Thomas made a free throw for a 47-32 lead and Taylor made a layup to keep the lead at 15. Brown scored again on a jumper and a dunk by Thomas put the Scots up 54-34. Brown made four straight free throws to keep the Scots up 20. Thomas hit a corner 3-pointer and Maring scored on a great feed from Brown for a 63-40 lead. Brown scored four straight points for a 67-42 lead before Eureka hit a 3-pointer. Kam Banks (Springfield, Illinois) hit two free throws and Maring scored in the paint for a 71-49 lead. Maring made free throws, Banks scored at the rim and Jase Whiteman (Andalusia, Illinois) hit a floater for a 77-51 lead. Eureka hit a pair of 3-pointers before O'Cien Valdes (Homestead, Florida) made a layup for a 79-57 lead. Brock Card (Edwards, Illinois) made a layup and Adam Waite (Earlville, Illinois) knocked down a long jumper. Nick Plesko (Streator, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer for his first career points and the 86-61 final score.

Brown led the Scots with 20 points while Thomas scored 16, Maring had 13 and Taylor added 11. Taylor had seven assists, Brown grabbed six rebounds and Thomas led with three steals. Waite had Monmouth's only blocked shot on the day.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Zay Brown has been in double digits in all five games this season with at least six rebounds in each gamesThomas has scored at least nine points in all five games this season ... Crims made his first career 3-pointers and scored a career-high six points ... Valdes and Plesko scored his first collegiate points ... Waite, Plesko, Ivan Iverson (Bettendorf, Iowa), Card, Valdes, Ryan Meyer (Arlington Heights, Illinois) and Ryken Howard (Rock Falls, Illinois) all made their Glennie Gym debuts ... It was the overall college debut for Iverson and Howard ... The Scots made eight 3-pointers in the first half and finished the game with a season-high 10 ... Monmouth had just one first half turnover and finished with eight while forcing 15 ... Monmouth has won five straight in the series and leads all-time 35-12 ... The Scots also won at Eureka 90-72 on Nov. 11 ... Monmouth plays at Dubuque on Tuesday at 7 p.m. with the next home game set for Dec. 3 against Illinois College at 5:30 p.m.