Offense Fires on All Cylinders for Green Knights at Illinois College

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, January 2, 2019 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College connected on 14 three-point field goals en route to a comfortable 96-66 win over Illinois College in a Midwest Conference game at Sherman Gymnasium.

The Green Knights (7-5, 5-0 MWC) moved into sole possession of first place in the MWC following Grinnell College's 116-88 loss at Monmouth College.

St. Norbert trailed 3-2 in the very early going before three consecutive three-point possessions to take control. Joe Ciriacks and Wade Geenen hit 3-pointers and Connor Curtis converted a conventional three-point play to take control with an 11-5 lead just 4 1/2 minutes into the game. The Green Knights held a 16-11 lead before things escalated quickly, with Ciriacks canning a 3-pointer and hoop, followed by treys from Ethan Riniker and Drew Yetka for a 27-11 lead with 10:29 left in the first half.

The onslaught continued the rest of the half, with Yetka's 3-pointer late in the half giving St. Norbert a 53-23 halftime lead.

St. Norbert led by 37 points on two occasions in the second half - at 66-29 with 12:12 left and at 84-47 with 6:24 to go.

The Green Knights shot an even 50 percent from the floor, connecting on 30 of 60 field-goal attempts. St. Norbert was just shade under that percentage from distance, converting 14 of 30 three-point field goal attempts. The Green Knights also converted 22 of 27 (81.5 percent) free-throw attempts and held a 41-29 rebounding advantage. St. Norbert also held a 23-2 edge in points scored off turnovers, including 20-0 in the first half.

Ciriacks finished with 23 points, while Yetka added 19 points. Geenen added 13 points and Jared Davis 11 points. Ciriacks, Yetka and Davis all finished with career-high point totals.

Illinois College shot 44.9 percent (22-for-49) from the floor. Michael Adams and Isaac Collins led the Blueboys with 11 points apiece.