What started out looking like an easy win turned into a nail-biter as the Cyclones just eked past Elgin Community College 102-99.

Going into this matchup, the Cyclones knew the Spartans were a fast team, ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division II for three-pointers made per game (12.1). For the first 10 minutes, the Spartans asserted themselves by holding a lead right from their first three. After seven minutes, the Cyclones put on the pressure to stop the Spartans from scoring while slowly going on a 13-point run to take a lead in part from free throws from TJ Lee, field goals by Deven Jiles and a bucket from a go-ahead bucket from Juvon Crawford (21-20). After that point, Moraine Valley continued to shut down the Spartans and build a 54-36 lead at halftime.

The first few minutes of the second half had the Cyclones ahead by 20 points thanks to Amarion Johnson, Lee and Jelani McGregor. But then things changed. The Spartans consistently hit threes, including three in a row while holding the Cyclones off, and cut the lead to nine. Grantas Sakenis came in to score eight straight, but the Spartans steadily climbed back. With less than two minutes to go, the Cyclones were only one point ahead of the Spartans (98-97). Jiles earned a lay up and the Spartans scored two more for Moraine Valley to lead 100-99 with only seconds left. Elgin missed a free throw to tie or go ahead before Crawford was fouled and scored two more on a free throw. The Spartans missed a final free throw, giving Moraine Valley the win.

Free throws were the key for the Cyclones, as they sunk all 20 they attempted while the Spartans missed them at the end. McGregor led the offense with 21 points followed by Jiles and Lee with 20 each. Johnson had 16, and Sakenis collected 15.