BELOIT, WI — In a defensive slugfest at Flood Arena, the Beloit College Buccaneers displayed remarkable resilience and flashes of dominance before ultimately falling to Illinois College, 61-51. Despite the final score, the Buccaneers (5-11, 0-7 MWC) proved they could go toe-to-toe with the Blueboys (7-9, 4-3 MWC), led by a balanced scoring attack and a formidable presence in the paint.
Beloit wasted no time making their presence felt on their home court. After Illinois College opened the scoring with free throws, the Buccaneers orchestrated an early 4-2 lead thanks to the high-energy play of Owen Geiger (Fort Atkinson, Wis.). Geiger was a catalyst in the opening minutes, converting a second-chance layup and following it up with a jump shot following a turnover.
The Buccaneers' defense was the story of the first half, anchored by Thomas Glenn (Waukesha, Wis.). Glenn was a one-man "no-fly zone," recording an impressive 4 blocks and pulling down 9 rebounds on the afternoon. His ability to alter shots kept Beloit within striking distance during a physical first period that saw several lead changes and five ties.
Leading the offensive effort for the Buccaneers was Anthony Carter (Greenfield, Wis.), who logged a team-high 35 minutes of action. Carter was efficient from beyond the arc, shooting a sharp 3-of-4 from three-point range to finish with 13 points. Whenever the Blueboys threatened to pull away, Carter seemed to find the bottom of the net, providing veteran leadership and steady ball-handling.
Support came from the bench as well, with Semaj Roy (Chicago, Ill.) and Dasan Reed (Greenfield, Wis.) combining for 13 points. Reed's efficiency was notable, shooting 2-of-3 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, helping Beloit's bench outscore their starters' production relative to minutes played.
The defining moment for Beloit came midway through the second half. Trailing by double digits, the Buccaneers locked in defensively and sparked a 7-0 scoring run that culminated at the 14:41 mark. This surge, fueled by aggressive transition play and points in the paint, cut the deficit significantly and sent the Flood Arena crowd into a frenzy.
By the 11:21 mark of the second half, Beloit had narrowed the gap to just five points (42-37) following a clutch layup by Dae'Quan Davis (Chicago, Ill.). During this stretch, the Buccaneers' "Points from Turnovers" and "Fast Break" opportunities surged, showcasing the team's ability to turn defensive stops into quick offensive production.
While Illinois College eventually used a late flurry of free throws to seal the victory, Beloit's statistical profile showed a team that fought for every inch. The Buccaneers stayed competitive on the glass, trailing by only three total rebounds (37-34) and showing great discipline by committing only 12 turnovers compared to the high-pressure environment.
Beloit's bench was a particular bright spot, contributing 21 points to the effort, proving the depth of the roster as they continue through the 2025-26 campaign.
The Buccaneers will look to build on this momentum heading into a road clash with Lawrence Univeristy on Wednesday. Tip off from Alexander Gymnasium is set for 5:30 pm.
