Junior Costa Cangellaris fights off LSA's Alex Joyner in the second half of Uni's 71-50 conference win. Cangellaris hit a team-high pair of three-pointers. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca (click to enlarge)

Alan Kessler goes up for a shot despite pressure from LSA's Dustin Altenbernd (35) and Drew Bardeleben (13). Warren Skoza (50) and Neil Pearson (21) are ready to help their teammate. (click to enlarge)

Nile Hamer battles for possession. The junior post player scored 14 points against LSA, second highest for the Illineks. (click to enlarge)

URBANA — With two games left on the slate, the Illineks needed two wins to clinch a tie for the East Central Illinois Conference championship. After Tuesday's game against Decatur Lutheran School Association (LSA), they’re halfway there.

Junior Dan Lilly led a second-half charge as host Uni dominated the final two quarters en route to a 71-50 win at Kenney Gym.

With the victory, the team achieved one of its preseason goals: to win 15 games. Uni is 15-7 overall, 9-2 in the ECIC. This is the sixth consecutive season in which Uni has won at least 15 games, the longest such streak in school history.

Though a share of the ECIC championship is still possible, an outright title isn't. Behind junior Grant Touma's 54 points, Normal Calvary Baptist finished its regular season Tuesday night with an 88-59 pounding of DeLand-Weldon, giving the Crusaders a final conference record of 10-2.

If Uni also ends up 10-2 in the ECIC, the two teams would have to split the title since they went 1-1 against each other. It would be Uni's fourth title in five years.

Early on in Tuesday's contest with Decatur Lutheran, it looked like the visiting Lions were planning a repeat of their 50-41 defeat of Uni back on Jan. 22. LSA led 12-11 after one quarter of play. The Illineks took the lead back in the second quarter, but their halftime advantage was just 26-20.

Then in the second half, the Illineks showed what a difference home-court advantage can make. Just as LSA had owned the second half against Uni last month in Decatur, the Illineks owned the final 16 minutes in Kenney Gym.

They nearly doubled LSA's third-quarter output as they built a 44-30 lead going into the final period. Then in the fourth quarter, the Illineks exploded for 27 points — among their most prolific single-period scoring bouts all season — on their way to the 21-point win.

Lilly finished with a game-high 29 points; he has been Uni's top scorer in every varsity game this year except one. He also added seven assists and five steals — also game highs.

The junior scored one three-pointer, tying Mike Renner's single-season (2006-07) school record for treys with 61.

Classmate Nile Hamer scored in double figures for the Illineks as well, adding 14 points and three rebounds.

Sophomore Warren Skoza once again dominated on the defensive end, pulling down 10 rebounds and making two of the team's four blocks to go with his eight points. Junior Costa Cangellaris had eight points, including two three-pointers, with three rebounds and three assists.

Uni's JV also played Tuesday night, losing a nail-biter to the Monticello freshmen 37-32.

The Illineks play their final game of the regular season Friday, when they host Judah Christian. Players Alan Kessler, Malcolm Taylor, and Charlie Wan, announcer/student assistant Adam Tiouririne, and student assistant Daniel Borup will say goodbye to Kenney Gym on Senior Night.

A win would be doubly sweet, not only because it would be Uni's 11th straight over its crosstown rival, a streak dating back to 2001-02, but also because it would send the seniors out as ECIC co-champions. Last year's team finished second to Decatur Christian.

Next week the Illineks will enter the IHSA Class 2A postseason. Seeded No. 4 in the Monticello regional, they will face No. 5 St. Thomas More at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. All games in the regional will be played at the new Monticello middle school gym.

More Photos: Uni vs. Decatur Lutheran

Senior Charlie Wan defends against Alex Joyner (24). The LSA senior led his team with 16 points. Gargoyle photos by David Porreca (click any photo to enlarge and to create your own slideshow)

Sophomore Warren Skoza maneuvers around LSA's Drew Bardeleben.

Skoza tries to disrupt a pass from LSA's Joyner.

Junior Dan Lilly scored a game-high 29 points for the Illineks.

Lilly races past LSA's John Salogga.

Malcolm Taylor guards Joyner. Taylor will be one of three Illineks honored Friday on Senior Night. The others are Charlie Wan and Alan Kessler.

Uni vs. Decatur Lutheran at a glance

Game Summary
Uni hosted Decatur Lutheran School Association (LSA) in a home conference game

• LSA: 12 08 10 20 — 50
• Uni: 11 15 18 27 — 71

Game Highlights

• Junior Dan Lilly scored 29 points and had seven assists, five steals
• Junior Nile Hamer scored 14 points
• Sophomore Warren Skoza grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots
• Varsity record: 15-7, 9-2 ECIC (tied for first place with Normal Calvary Baptist)
• JV result: Monticello freshmen 37, Uni JV 32
• Final regular-season game: Friday, Kenney Gym; Senior Night celebration begins at 7:30 p.m.
• Seniors to be honored: Alan Kessler, Malcolm Taylor, Charlie Wan

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

• Dan Lilly: 29 pts (9-1-8), 3 rebs, 7 assts, 5 stls
• Nile Hamer: 14 pts (7-0-0), 3 rebs
• Costa Cangellaris: 8 pts (1-2-0), 3 rebs, 3 assts, 1 stl
• Warren Skoza: 8 pts (3-0-2), 10 rebs, 2 blks
• Neil Pearson: 6 pts (3-0-0), 2 rebs, 3 assts, 2 stls
• Will Fernandez: 2 pts (1-0-0), 3 rebs, 1 asst
• Alan Kessler: 2 pts (1-0-0), 5 rebs, 2 assts, 1 blk
• Malcolm Taylor: 2 pts (1-0-0)
• Miles Bribriesco: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Seth Bull: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Jack Snyder: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Joseph Song: 0 pts (0-0-0)
• Charlie Wan: 0 pts (0-0-0), 4 rebs, 1 asst, 1 blk

For Decatur Lutheran, senior Alex Joyner had a team-high 16 points (5-0-6) and senior Andrew Buhr had 14 points (1-4-0)

Uni Team Statistics
Opponent totals in parentheses

• Total Points: 71 (50)
• 2-pointers made: 26 (14)
• 3-pointers made: 3 (4)
• Free throws made: 10 (10)
• Rebounds: 33 (not available)
• Assists: 17 (n/a)
• Blocks: 4 (n/a)
• Steals: 8 (n/a)