(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College men's basketball team returned home to Erickson Hall Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon with a renewed energy and intensity. After their school record 24-game winning streak was snapped earlier in the week with a tough 92-88 loss at Moraine Valley Community College, the 11th ranked Chiefs (26-2) finished off the week with a 103-72 win over Wright College from Chicago. Waubonsee outscored the Rams (6-19) in the paint 46-26 and owned a 51-30 advantage in bench scoring on the way to securing their 26th win to equal the program record for regular season wins set just last season. The Chiefs also connected on 19 of 22 (86.4 percent) shots from the foul line, registered 24 assists, out rebounded Wright 56-38 for the game and made 10 long-range shots from beyond the arc. In other words, coach Lance Robinson's crew displayed all the intangibles that have helped them compile one of the best records in the country and tie them with Pima (AZ) Community College (26-0) for the most wins among all NJCAA Division II teams.
Christian Meeks started the scoring with a strong post move and inside basket a minute into the game. However, that was the only shot Waubonsee made out of their first six attempts. The Chiefs started to get to the rim after that and quickly built an 13-5 lead, capped off by a three-point play by Aboubacar Sidibe five minutes into the game. A reverse lay-in by Chris Rhoades a few minutes later gave Waubonsee a 19-10 advantage. Moments later Tylon Toliver drilled a three-pointer as the Chiefs doubled up on the Rams 24-12. Zachariah Hayslett then connected on a three-pointer in transition as Waubonsee's lead grew to 34-18. The Chiefs extended the lead to 43-24 on a James Parker triple with five minutes to go until halftime. The lead then reached 20 points when Sidibe slashed across the lane and scored on a one-hander in traffic. In the final minute of the half something happened that nearly no one had ever seen before. The ball was deflected out of Tim Taiwo's hands on a drive to the basket and sailed high above the basket. With the softest of bounces the ball nestled on to the top of the shot clock and came to a rest there, tenuously balancing on the top edge. The game was halted for a minute while the ball was retrieved. Waubonsee eventually took a 53-32 lead into the locker room.
A dish off from Hayslett to Meeks for a two-handed slam highlighted the first three minutes of the second half. A moment later Hayslett buried a three-pointer from the left corner and then splashed one from the right corner a minute later as the Chiefs lead ballooned to 25 points at 68-43. A block by Jermaine Theodore led directly to a short jumper by Parker to push the lead to 81-52 midway through the second half. Waubonsee kept the pressure on and increased the lead to 30 points on a high arching three-pointer by Theodore. The Chiefs led by as many as 33 points before the Rams put together a quick 6-0 run, prompting head coach Lance Robinson to call a timeout and get his crew refocused. Wright would not get closer than 25 points the rest of the way. JJ Strojinc drilled a trey from the left corner and Dimetris Gayden threw down a one-handed slam to get the Chiefs to the century mark with three minutes remaining.
All 13 Chiefs' players dented the scoring column with five reaching double figures in scoring led by Hayslett's 16 points. Sidibe added 14 points, handed out five assists and grabbed seven rebounds, while Meeks booked a dozen points, snagged seven boards and made three steals. Parker also netted 12 points, Toliver chipped in with 11 points and Taiwo hauled down 10 rebounds and dished out four assists. Waubonsee is in action again this coming Tuesday, February 18 when they travel to Morton College for an Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) showdown. The Chiefs currently reside on top of the ISCC standings with an 11-1 record, while the Panthers are second with a 9-2 mark. Tipoff in Cicero is slated for 7:00 p.m. Waubonsee will close out the regular season next Thursday, February 20, when they host Prairie State College on Sophomore Night. The tipoff is set for 7:15 p.m. in Erickson Hall Gymnasium, with the women's contest scheduled for 5:15 p.m.