SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Parkland College men’s basketball team started slow in a road conference matchup at Lincoln Land Community College, and the Cobras could not overcome it, losing 56-55 in Springfield on Saturday, February 25th. Parkland had a chance to tie it late, but a missed free throw with eight seconds left halted the late comeback, as the Cobras (14-12) (4-5) lost to the Loggers (11-15) (4-5) for the second time this season. Freshman Isaac Mapson III (6 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists) led the team in rebounding, and Brylan Phillips (8 points) led a balanced scoring attack from the Cobras.
“As a team, consistency continues to escape us,” head coach John Bowler explained after the game, saying, “It’s a problem we have talked about all year, and we have to get that rhythm back on Wednesday.”
The Cobras did not make a basket until Sean Ealy converted a layup through contact with 13:28 to go in the first half to cut the deficit to 9-4. The Loggers shot over 44 percent from the field in the first half as the Cobras struggled, and while Clovis Gallon Jr. knocked down a three to cut their lead to 21-17 with 5:47 remaining, Lincoln Land responded with a 6-0 run, and Parkland still trailed 29-20 at halftime. With the Logger lead still at nine, freshman Ken Sallee hit a three and went 2-2 from the line before Tye Banks buried a three to cut the deficit to 33-32. Gallon Jr. gave Parkland its first lead on a mid-range jumper with 13:34 to go, but three minutes later, back-to-back Lincoln Land threes put the Loggers up 41-36. The Cobras charged back, taking a 46-45 lead on a Gallon Jr. layup, but the Loggers answered again, taking a timeout after a 7-0 run put them ahead 52-46 with 5:25 remaining. As their opponents slowed the pace down, the Cobras trimmed the lead to just two with just over two minutes to go on two Ealy free throws, and after a Lincoln Land jumper, Brylan Phillips battled through contact to score with 54 seconds left, making the score 56-54. Parkland held Lincoln Land to just 10-29 (35%) in the second half and forced back-to-back turnovers in the final minute, taking a timeout with 18 seconds on the clock still trailing 56-54. Out of the timeout, Phillips got fouled on a drive with eight seconds remaining, but the freshman went just 1-2 at the line, and the Cobras lost 56-55 in a hard-fought conference game.
Statistical Overview:
- Brylan Phillips: 8 points
- Sean Ealy: 7 points, 2 assists, 3 steals
- Isaac Mapson III: 6 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists
- Don Coats: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
- Jabryn Anderson: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Up next, Parkland welcomes Illinois Central College to Champaign on Wednesday, March 1st, for another conference matchup. Tip-off against the Cougars (9-17) (1-6) will be at 7:30 PM at the Donald C. Dodds Jr. Athletic Complex.
