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Illinois ends Fort Wayne's 14-game winning streak; Indianapolis rallies late versus Bowling Green

04/23/2017, 8:15pm CDT
By CBA Staff

INDIANAPOLIS 99, BOWLING GREEN 94: (Russellville, Ky.) - In a rematch of last year's opening round playoff game, where Indianapolis defeated Bowling Green to advance to the 2016 CBA semifinals, the hosts were looking for revenge this afternoon. Both teams went back and forth in the first half, with Indianapolis leading by four after the opening period, and Bowling Green retaking the lead by three points at the midway break. The second half remained competitive as Bowling Green held onto their lead after the third quarter with a 75-71 lead. The final frame, though, became a tale of two halves within itself. In the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, Bowling Green outscored Indianapolis 11-7 to take an eight-point lead and appearing to seize control of the game. But in the final five minutes of the game, the visitors went on a 21-8 run to rally for their fifth victory of the season. Indianapolis (5-2), who became the first league team to clinch a postseason berth, were led by Joe Retic with 30 points. Bowling Green (2-2) were led by Fred Sturdivant with 16 points and Monte Burney with 15 points. Indianapolis will be on a bye week next weekend, before hosting Fort Wayne in the finalweekend of the season. Bowling Green will participate in a home-and-home series versus Middle Tennessee next weekend. 

ILLINOIS 100, FORT WAYNE 74: (Danville, Ill.) - Last weekend in Indiana, Fort Wayne used a final period rally to defeat Illinois by nine points and remained undefeated on the season. This evening, no rally would suffice. Fort Wayne opened the game with a 9-4 lead, but that would be their only taste of success. Illinois used a 15-0 run to end the first quarter with a double-digit lead, and then used a 39-12 run to open the second half, to lead by as many as 35 points, before handing Fort Wayne its worst loss in the organization's four-year history and ending its 14-game winning streak, dating back to the 2015 season. Illinois (3-3) were led by Tyron Criswell with 30 points and Ayron Worthington with 19 points, while Fort Wayne (4-1), who tied their lowest point total in team history with 74 points, were led by Antonio Cannon with 29 points. Illinois, who completed their home schedule, will be on a bye week next weekend, before facing Middle Tennessee and Bowling Green on the road in the final weekend, while Fort Wayne will fly to Maryland to face Baltimore next Friday and Saturday night. 

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