Chargers open season with back-to-back wins over Spoon River, St. Ambrose JV

GALESBURG — With balanced scoring in both contests, the Sandburg men's basketball team opened its season with victories on consecutive days as the Chargers won 75-73 on Saturday at Spoon River and ran away from St. Ambrose JV 85-58 on Sunday at John Lewis Gym.

Sandburg (2-0) had four players score in double figures in Saturday's win over the Snappers, and there were five Chargers with at least 10 points in Sunday's home opener.

SATURDAY
Sandburg 75, Spoon River 73
Demarion Honaker led the way with 18 points in his collegiate debut. The freshman from Camanche, Iowa, was 6 of 9 from the field and connected on 2 of 4 3-point tries.

Sophomore Ethan Price had 12 points a career-best 11 rebounds against Spoon River as he recorded his first double-double as a Charger. Price did much of his damage on the offensive glass, collecting eight boards on that end of the floor. He also had four assists in the victory.

Sophomore Logan Sluder had 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including a 5-for-5 day at the free-throw line. Freshman Larry Olivier Jr. finished with 12 points along with six rebounds and team highs of six assists and three steals.

Sandburg took a 35-33 lead into halftime against the Snappers and shot 46 percent (26 of 57) from the field for the contest.

SUNDAY
Sandburg 85, St. Ambrose JV 58
The Chargers led 34-21 at the break but saw the Fighting Bees get within 53-43 with 12:00 left. Sandburg then answered by scoring 14 of the next 16 points.

Sluder had a steal-and-layup as part of the stretch, and freshmen Tyler Heffren and Ralph Wires drilled back-to-back 3s to help the Chargers' lead balloon to 67-45.

Heffren finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 6-of-12 shooting. Sluder matched Heffren for the team lead with 14 points, going 6 of 8 from the floor.

Davante Bradford provided a spark off the bench, scoring 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Wires had a dozen points along with four assists and four steals. Camron Williams added 10 points in a reserve role and matched Wires for the team lead with four steals.

UP NEXT
7:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Lincoln Land (Paint the House Red Night) 

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