EAST PEORIA, Ill. — Bryant & Stratton College (WI) men's basketball was back on the hardwood following its victory over Kishwaukee and it was the Bobcats' first road test against the Illinois Central Cougars. The Cougars would hand the Bobcats their first loss of the season with an 84-74 win. 

How it Happened: The Cougars started on an 8-0 run, but a free throw by Gor Ruey stopped the run. Through the first 10 minutes, Illinois Central led 22-13, and the Cougars' offense stayed hot and outscored Bryant & Stratton 14-10 to carry a 36-23 lead at the halftime break. 

Bryant & Stratton outscored the Cougars 15-7 through the first six minutes of the second half, but Illinois Central remained consistent and kept going at the Bobcats and held a 58-45 lead at the 11-minute mark. Bryant & Stratton's offense seemed to have been clicking as they brought the Cougars' lead down to six with 5:30 on the clock, but they would pull away from the Bobcats to hand them their first loss of the year. 

Stats:

• Tayshaun Wallace scored a game-high 22 points for Bryant & Stratton. 

• Vontez Dent scored 19 points. 

• The last time the Bobcats scored 51 second-half points was when the Bobcats faced Wilbur Wright on February 20, 2024.

Up Next: The Bobcats will be in the Wisconsin Dells, where they'll face Mid Michigan and Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC).