Cougars Hit Double-Digit Win Mark In 81-74 Decision Over Kansas City

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CHICAGO, Illinois – Thanks to a 27-of-32 performance from the free throw line, Chicago State men's basketball finished a season-series sweep of Kansas City by defeating the Roos 81-74 in a Western Athletic Conference contest at the Jones Convocation Center on Saturday (Feb. 8).

In the previous meeting between the two clubs it was senior Quinton Pippen (Hamburg, Ark./Hamburg) making the game-winning basket with less than two seconds remaining. On Saturday, Pippen was again a main reason for the victory. He finished with a career-high 28 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He made 5-of-6 3-point attempts and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line. He also added two steals an assist and committed just one turnover.

Pippen was one of four Cougars in double-digits. Junior Clarke Rosenberg (Skokie, Ill./Evanston Township) added 19 points on 11-of-14 shooting from the free throw line. Senior Nate Duhon (Lansing, Mich./Sexton) scored 11 points and senior Eddie Denard (Chicago, Ill./Foreman) provided 10 points.

The Cougars opened a 34-26 lead at halftime thanks to 13 Kansas City turnovers in the opening period. CSU built their lead to 15 points in the second half on a jumper by Pippen with 15:17 left to make the score 48-33. Less than two minutes later Pippen picked up his fourth foul. When he left the court, Kansas City responded with a 17-4 run to tie the game at 53 with 8:06 remaining. However the Cougars would never trail in the second half. Pippen, back on the court, followed with a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to put the Cougars in the lead again. It was the start of a 12-3 run by the Cougars to essentially ice the contest. Chicago State built their lead up to 12 points again and made enough free throws down the stretch to earn the victory.

"Kansas City made their run to tie it up but we didn't give up," Chicago State head coach Tracy Dildy said. "That's the one thing about this team is this group doesn't give up and will keep fighting. That's what you need to win conference games."

The Cougars' success at the line was pivotal as Kansas City earned only five fewer attempts from the charity stripe but made 11 fewer free throws. The Roos shot 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the floor while the Cougars finished 44.4 percent (24-of-54) for the contest.

Junior Rahjan Muhammad (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley) saw his first action of the season and added two points, two steals, two rebounds and three assists in a starting role.

The victory moves Chicago State to 10-12 (5-3 WAC) on the year. Kansas City falls to 7-15 (4-5 WAC). The Cougars hit the road next week for a pair of WAC contests. First up is UTPA on Thursday (Feb. 13). The game has a 7 p.m. CT start. Chicago State will look to avenge an earlier season loss to the Broncs.

COURTESY CHICAGO STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS