JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Lawrence (10-8, 3-6 Midwest Conference) fell to Illinois College (9-9, 6-3 Midwest Conference) 69-66 in an overtime contest on Saturday at Sherman Gymnasium. Lawrence managed 34 points in the paint, but the Blueboys secured the victory with a five-point effort in overtime.

Lawrence opened the first half by trading early baskets with Illinois College, quickly matching the home team's initial scoring push. Nicholas Gouriotis and Nathan Valentine helped seize the momentum with timely three-pointers, contributing to a balanced scoring attack. By the halfway mark, Lawrence gained a slight edge with defensive rebounds and fast break opportunities, notably with CJ Campbell's contributions off the bench.

As the half progressed, the Vikings extended their lead with a combination of perimeter shooting and points in the paint. Despite the Blueboys' attempts to regain control, Lawrence's defense held firm, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on free throw opportunities. The half closed with Lawrence maintaining a 35-29 lead, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the game.

Lawrence opened the second half with a strong start, featuring a layup by Hogan Demovsky and a trio of free throws by Campbell to extend their lead to 40–31. Illinois College responded with quick points to close the gap, but Campbell's defensive efforts, including a block and a defensive rebound, helped maintain Lawrence's momentum.

As the Blueboys tied the game at 45–45, Lawrence regained control through a three-pointer by Gouriotis and a tip-in by Campbell, pushing the score to 52–49. The teams exchanged baskets, with the Vikings briefly pulling away to a 61–53 advantage, largely due to Campbell's consistent scoring and free-throw accuracy.

In the final moments, Illinois College tied the game at 64–64 with a late three-pointer. Despite Lawrence's defensive rebounds and a late free throw by Demovsky, the half ended in a tie, setting up a tense conclusion to the matchup.

Lawrence and Illinois College entered the overtime period with the score tightly contested. Lawrence briefly tied the score at 66-66 when Casey Schoenecker converted a layup midway through the period. However, the Blueboys responded by converting several free throws, regaining a slight edge.

Despite strong defensive rebounding efforts by the Vikings, including key steals from Valentine and Campbell, the team struggled to capitalize on offensive opportunities, missing several key shots in the final minutes. Illinois College managed to secure their lead with a final free throw, ending the overtime ahead 69-66 and securing the win for the home team. 

Lawrence Top Performers  

CJ Campbell  
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- 15 points  
- 7/7 free throws made  
- 3 steals  
- 7 rebounds  

Casey Schoenecker  
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- 9 points  
- 14 rebounds  
- 2 assists  

Nicholas Gouriotis  
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- 10 points  
- 2/8 three-pointers made  
- 5 rebounds  

Caleb Nash  
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- 7 points  
- 2 steals  
- 3/4 free throws made