By Alan Liang & Ranny Ma
Gargoyle staff reporters
Posted Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, The OG, sports

URBANA — The Illineks opened their season Monday night at Kenney Gym with a 50-44 win over fellow East Central Illinois Conference member Buckley Christ Lutheran in the Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney.

Playing without top returner Mike Renner, who sat out due to a knee injury, Uni led 27-19 at halftime. But the Crusaders came back to tie Uni 44-44 with about a minute to go after they hit several key 3-pointers late in the game.

However, the Illineks buckled down, played hard-nosed defense, and did not let the Crusaders score again the rest of the game.

Four consecutive free-throw points by the Illineks (two by senior Michael Belmont and two by junior Isaac Radnitzer) and a missed BCL layup gave Uni the edge, and the boys went on to seal the deal with an extra layup.

“For being the first game, we played rather well,” said junior Chumar Williams, starting point guard for the Illineks.

Belmont led the team with 12 points, followed by Williams with 10 and Radnitzer with 9. Senior Jeremy Pillow and junior Austin Rundus both contributed 7 points, each scoring a 3-pointer.

BCL made eight 3-pointers on the night, accounting for more than half of the team's points. The Crusaders returned every varsity player from last year.

The Uni varsity takes the floor 7:45 tonight at Kenney Gym against the Mahomet-Seymour JV team as the Turkey Tournament continues. Uni is co-hosting the tourney with Atwood-Hammond. Uni will host Pool A tournament games through Friday.

The schedule for the rest of this week at Kenney:

Tuesday
6 p.m. — Buckley Christ Lutheran vs. Bement
7:45 p.m. — Mahomet-Seymour JV vs. Uni High

Friday
6 p.m. — Uni High vs Bement
7:45 p.m. — Mahomet JV vs Buckley Christ Lutheran

VARSITY RECORD: 1-0
(Home games in bold)

Season Preview: A new era begins

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Uni/Atwood-Hammond Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 50-44
— leading scorer: Michael Belmont, 12 pts
— story: see above