JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Coe College men's basketball team responded one day after its first loss of the season, earning a dominant 86-66 victory over 2023 DIII sweet 16 participant and nationally-ranked North Park University in the team's second game of the Bill Merris tournament at Illinois College. Coe used a balanced attack throughout the game, leading for nearly the entire 40 minutes against the Vikings. A quick 10-0 run started the hot-shooting night for the Kohawks who went on to shoot 54.3 percent from the field and 42.1 from deep, both early-season highs. Coe's strenght on defense was also on display throughout, limiting North Park to just 33.9 percent from the floor and 22.7 from 3.
TJ Schnurr was Coe's top scorer, leading a group of five double-digit scorers with 19 points and nine boards.
Cael Schmitt (16),
Bennett Sherry (12),
Josh Schloe (12) and
Cooper Nailor (10) also eclipsed the double-digit scoring mark in the victory.
COE 86 - #21 NORTH PARK 66
GAME FACTS
- The early run began with back-to-back buckets from Schnurr before a 3 by Nailor just over two minutes into the game. Coe made it 10-0 on its next possession with another 3, this time from Schmitt. North Park quickly responded with five unanswered to make it 10-5. The teams fought back and forth over the next few possessions, trading buckets along the way. NPU continued to trim the lead, getting back to within three at 26-23 with 7:35 left in the half. The Vikings closed the gap to one later in the half, getting a 3 to make it 36-35 with just over three minutes to play in the period. Coe ended the quarter with five unanswered points from Schmitt who converted a two-point jumper before delivering a period-ending 3 to make it 43-35. Coe quickly extended the lead to double digits in the second half on an opening 3 but again NPU fought back, getting the deficit to seven with 15:01 left to play. Coe pulled away over the next eight minutes, ripping off a 14-7 run that was highlighted by a pair of 3s from Nailor. The Kohawks continued to force the issue over the final few minutes of the game, pushing the lead past 20 around the four-minute mark.
Up next: Coe is back on the floor on Tuesday, November 21 for its opening A-R-C contest, hosting Loras College at 7:30 PM at Kohawk Arena.
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