Sangamon Sun

Buzz Ritzel led the Illinois College men's basketball team to an 86-63 victory over Knox, concluding their regular season at Sherman Gymnasium in Jacksonville, Illinois. This win secured a spot for the Blueboys in the upcoming Midwest Conference Tournament scheduled from February 28 to March 1 at Monmouth.

Illinois College finished their regular season with a record of 17-8 overall and 10-6 in conference play, while Knox ended with a record of 4-20 and 1-14. The game saw IC taking control early on, as Austin Robinson's free throw gave them a lead they maintained throughout. By halftime, the Blueboys were ahead by 17 points, leading 47-30.

In the second half, Illinois College extended their lead to as much as 22 points. Although Knox narrowed the gap to ten points midway through the period, IC responded strongly and secured a final margin of victory of 23 points.

Ritzel was the top scorer with 29 points. Josh Harris contributed 15 points and Javonte McKenzie added another 12. Seth Doss dominated on rebounds with a game-high of twelve.

The match marked the last home game for seniors Harris, Ritzel, and Matt Thompson. Their tenure at Illinois College included an impressive home record of 45 wins against eight losses at Sherman Gymnasium and a Midwest Conference record of 48-16.

Looking forward, Illinois College will await their seeding for the Midwest Conference Tournament. The pairings and game times are expected to be announced after Saturday's conclusion of the regular season.