URBANA — Despite a six-point halftime lead, Uni couldn’t hold on in the second half, falling 67-41 to the Normal Calvary Baptist Crusaders at Kenney Gym on Tuesday.

Going into the East Central Illinois Conference showdown, the Illineks knew they would be facing one of the area’s top players in junior Grant Touma, who came in averaging 25.3 points per game. Thirty-three points and four treys later, Touma didn’t disappoint.

Uni had no answer for Calvary's Grant Touma in the second half, who dropped 31 points, including four treys, in the game's final 16 minutes. Gargoyle photo by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

Although the final score was skewed, the first half was anything but a blowout. Normal Calvary was up just 10-9 at the end of the first quarter, and the Illineks closed the first half on an 11-2 run, highlighted by a Malcolm Taylor's three-point play. Uni had a six-point advantage at halftime, leading 24-18.

But that would be as good as it got for the Illineks, as Calvary came out on fire in the second half. Before four minutes had passed, the Crusaders outscored Uni 16-3, taking a 34-27 lead after back-to-back threes by Touma.

The 6-foot-5 swingman continued to lead the show through the end of the third quarter, and when the dust had settled, Touma had doubled Uni’s team output from the quarter with 20 points, and Normal was ahead 47-34.

It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, as Uni’s defense couldn’t slow Touma or any of the other Crusaders, and the game ended in Uni’s worst loss of the season. Thirty-one of Touma's 33 points came in the second half.

Junior Dan Lilly once again led Uni in scoring, this time with 18 points, also adding three steals and the team’s only three-pointer. The Illineks struggled from the field, as no other player could manage more than six points.

Sophomore Warren Skoza scored six to go with half a dozen rebounds and five blocks. No Illinek had more than two assists.

With the loss, the Illineks fall to 8-5 overall and 3-1 in the ECIC. Normal Calvary improves to 6-7, with a 4-0 ECIC mark.

The Illineks will aim for a Spirit Week win on Friday, as they host DeLand-Weldon at Kenney Gym. Uni gets a shot at redemption against the Crusaders when the team heads to Normal on Feb. 6.

In JV action, the Uni JV rode a strong first half to victory, holding off the Calvary JV 36-31.

At a Glance: Uni vs. Normal Calvary Baptist

Game Summary
Normal Calvary Baptist Academy (CBA) defeated Uni 67-41 in a conference game

• CBA: 10 08 29 20 — 67
• Uni: 09 15 10 07 — 41

Uni Highlights

• Senior Dan Lilly scored 18 points
• Sophomores Nile Hamer and Warren Skoza each had six rebounds
• Varsity record: 8-5 overall, 3-1 East Central Illinois conference
• JV: Uni 36, Normal Calvary 31

Uni Individual Statistics
Player: Total Points (2-pointers made - 3-pointers made - free throws made)

• Dan Lilly: 18 pts (7-1-1), 3 rebs, 2 assts, 1 blk, 3 stls
• Warren Skoza: 6 pts (3-0-0), 6 rebs, 5 blks
• Malcolm Taylor: 6 pts (2-0-2), 3 rebs, 2 assts, 1 stl
• Will Fernandez: 4 pts (2-0-0), 1 reb, 1 blk
• Alan Kessler: 3 pts (1-0-1), 5 rebs, 1 blk
• Costa Cangellaris: 2 pts (1-0-0), 1 asst, 1 stl
• Nile Hamer: 2 pts (1-0-0), 6 rebs, 2 blks
• Miles Bribriesco: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Seth Bull: 0 pts (0-0-0), 1 reb, 1 blk
• Neil Pearson: 0 pts (0-0-0), 1 stl
• Jack Snyder: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Joseph Song: 0 pts (0-0-0), 2 assts
• Charlie Wan: 0 pts (0-0-0)

Grant Touma led Normal Calvary Baptist with 33 pts

Uni Team Statistics (opponent totals in parentheses)

• Total Points: 41 (67)
• 2-pointers made: 17 (22)
• 3-pointers made: 1 (5)
• Free throws made: 4 (8)
• Rebounds: 25 (not available)
• Assists: 7 (n/a)
• Blocks: 11 (n/a)
• Steals: 6 (n/a)