The men’s basketball team has started the season with a 2-7 record as off press time.
In addition, the team may be approaching the rest of the season with fewer players. Several
sources reported that men’s players had been mandated to undergo drug testing and team numbers could be reduced pending those results. The testing was not confirmed by school officials as of press time; however, any updated information will be posted on the ivleader.com Web site.
With the Eagles looking to return to .500 on Nov. 20, they ran into a SWAT team. Of course, their opponents were not highly trained police officers, but the JV Titans from Illinois Wesleyan.
The Titan big men dominated the paint in the second half and rejected numerous IV shots early on. Despite a 7-0 start to the game for the Eagles, IWU could not be stopped down low in the game’s final twenty minutes. Their lead grew to as many as 19 points as the Titans prevailed 74-61.
The game opened with a three by Ross Arteaga and a steal finished with a lay in by Corey McCrary. He contributed 13 points. Wesleyan’s team looked sloppy and unorganized out of the gate, missing layups and forcing turnovers. The change came when their 6’8” center Trevor Seibring ferociously denied an Eagle field goal, shifting the game’s momentum. He led the way with 21 points.
In the second half, few things went right for the Eagles except for the play of Quentin Lowe and Torrance Johnson, who both finished in double figures. Tim Smith brought the crowd back into the game late with a nasty dunk over a helpless Titan.
The game saw the return of former Fieldcrest standout Brady Sanders to the Illinois Valley.
IVCC returned home on Nov. 26 to play Lincoln College. Lincoln won the contest with a 74-68 score. McCrary led the Eagles with 17 points while
Lamont Adair added 15 points.
On Nov. 30, the Eagles fell to Des Moines Area Community College 76-38.