With two Skyway Conference games left in the regular season, the pressure is on to keep winning. After being down the entire first half, the Cyclones (22-5) scraped back to take the 87-75 victory from a tough Morton College (16-10), the perfect way to win on Sophomore Night.
The last time these two met in January, the Cyclones only won by four points. Needing every win for the coveted conference championship, Moraine Valley knew what they needed to do but started slow. The Panthers began the scoring and went on several runs while the Cyclones missed shots and turned over the ball. Midway through the first half, the Cyclones suffered two technical fouls allowing the Panthers to earn four free throws, all of which were made. By then the Cyclones saw their biggest deficit of the game – 17 points. In the last six minutes before halftime, Enari Thomas put up 10 points and Trace Williams had eight (two three-pointers) to bring the deficit down to 53-45.
It was a team effort to get out of the gulch in the second half. Within eight minutes, the Cyclones held the Panthers to four points and scored 14 to take their first lead of the game. Luis Acevedo picked up the offensive rebound and scored the tying bucket before Javonte McKenzie had a steal to score the go-ahead field goal. Morton responded with a shot to tie, but Anthony Taylor and Williams made that disappear with a field goal and two free throws. Moraine Valley put the pressure on the Panthers and continued to score consistently.
Some missed free throws allowed the Panthers to take a brief 71-69 lead with five minutes left. Taijon Barry responded with two to tie it up, and a drive from Williams helped the Cyclones retake the lead for good. This was the Cyclones' fifth straight victory.
Thomas led the effort with 28 points followed by Taylor with 22. Williams was all over the court, scoring 17 and adding 12 assists, nine rebounds and six steals. McKenzie banked 12 buckets.
The final conference matchup is on Feb. 23 with Prairie State College, who is contending with them for the crown.