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Boys basketball: Uni wins eighth straight in home victory over Normal Calvary

Gargoyle photo by Anna Cangellaris (click to enlarge) Senior Mike Renner ignores pressure from Normal Calvary's Grant Touma and passes to a teammate during Uni's 68-53 victory over the visiting Crusaders.

By Chris Yoder
Published: Saturday, February 2, 2008 - 1:51am
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Note: For a breakdown of the stats, click here to visit the Gargoyle Scoreboard.

URBANA — Make it eight in a row.

Senior Mike Renner scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Illineks to a 68-53 conference win Friday over Normal Calvary Baptist — their eighth consecutive victory.

Uni is now 17-5 overall, 7-1 in the East Central Illinois Conference. The Illineks have not lost in nearly four weeks, when they fell to Lexington at home 51-48 on Jan. 5.

The host Illineks traded baskets with the Crusaders in the early going and led 17-16 after the first quarter. Although Uni embarked on a 14-2 run over most of the second quarter, the Crusaders answered with a 7-0 run of their own going into halftime.

"We didn’t do very well in the first half defensively," said head coach Joel Beesley. "But as the game progressed I thought we were more aggressive and we played a bit better."

Uni started to take control of the game in the third quarter, ending on an 11-0 run capped by three Alan Kessler layups in 54 seconds. The Illineks never let Normal Calvary back into the game, as the Crusaders did not score more than 4 points in a row in the entire second half.

Seniors produced the most on Uni's scoresheet. Point guard Chumar Williams had 10 points and 3 assists. Forward Isaac Radnitzer added 10 points. Center Frankie McFarland had 8 points and 8 rebounds. Renner also added 3 steals. Beesley called the game "a team effort."

The loss drops Normal Calvary to 9-13, 4-5. Six Crusaders scored 8 or 9 points, but none scored in double figures.

Uni defeated the Crusaders 74-51 in Normal on Jan. 8. The win was the first of Uni's eight in a row.

"[The winning streak] just shows we really got it together, started playing like we were at the beginning of the year," said senior forward Ammar Rizwan. "We just put together a streak of good games. Hopefully [we'll] go into regionals with that same fire."

Uni next plays DeLand-Weldon at Kenney Gym on Tuesday. Uni routed the Eagles 70-25 on Jan. 11, holding them scoreless in the second half.

In junior varsity action Friday, Uni fell to Normal Calvary 45-42 after making a dramatic comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, narrowing the visitors' lead to 44-42 with 34 seconds left.

MORE PHOTOS: UNI VS. NORMAL CALVARY BAPTIST


Sophomore Dan Lilly drives past Normal Calvary's Mitch Murray. Gargoyle photo by Anna Cangellaris (click to enlarge)


Senior Frankie McFarland makes a trip to the foul line. Gargoyle photo by Anna Cangellaris (click to enlarge)


Senior Austin Rundus gets past Grant Touma for a layup attempt. Gargoyle photo by Anna Cangellaris (click to enlarge)


Senior guard Chumar Williams keeps an eye on Murray. Gargoyle photo by Anna Cangellaris (click to enlarge)


Senior forward Isaac Radnitzer maneuvers his way through traffic. Gargoyle photo by Anna Cangellaris (click to enlarge)

THE VARSITY SEASON SO FAR

2007-08 BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL: 17-5 overall, 7-1 ECIC
(home matches listed in bold)

Nov. 19: Shiloh (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 80-32

Nov. 20: Buckley Christ Lutheran (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 69-17

Nov. 23: Bement (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney), W 73-59

Nov. 24: Martinsville (Central Illinois Turkey Tourney championship game), W 74-43

Nov. 30: at Shiloh, W 72-23

Dec. 4: St. Thomas More, W 63-45

Dec. 14: at Oakwood, L 67-54

Dec. 18: Uni JV vs. BCL Varsity, W 40-23 (counts toward Uni's ECIC record only)

Dec. 27: Heritage (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 67-32

Dec. 27: Georgetown-Ridge Farm (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 63-41

Dec. 28: Salt Fork (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), L 71-64

Dec. 28: Atwood-Hammond (Hayden's Classic at Heritage), W 59-42

Dec. 29: Fisher (Hayden's Classic at Bismarck-Henning), L 60-42

Jan. 4: Decatur Christian, L 63-60 (OT)

Jan. 5: Lexington, L 51-48

Jan. 8: at Normal Calvary Baptist, W 74-51

Jan. 11: at DeLand-Weldon, W 70-25

Jan. 12: at Fisher, W 71-60

Jan. 15: Paxton-Buckley-Loda, W 71-57

Jan. 17: Decatur Lutheran School Association, W 69-56

Jan. 22: Judah Christian, W 71-49

Jan. 24: at Georgetown Notre Dame de LaSalette, W 81-52

Jan. 25: Uni JV at BCL Varsity, W 46-33 (counts toward Uni's ECIC record only)

Jan. 29: at Decatur Christian, postponed due to winter weather

Feb. 1: Normal Calvary Baptist, W 68-53

2007-08 schedule: Click here for the Gargoyle Scoreboard, which includes remaining varsity games.

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