The Lake Forest College men's basketball team defeated host Knox College 90-75 on Saturday. Forester freshman point guard Danny Nikitas led all players in the contest with a career-high 24 points and also dished out a game-high six assists.
Nikitas was just one of four Foresters to score in double figures. Sophomore forward Jim Schick finished with 17 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Senior forward Brian Madson had 13 points, five boards, and a pair of steals in 38 minutes of play. Junior forward Torrey Davis added 10 points and matched Schick's six rebounds, despite playing only 16 minutes due to foul trouble.
Lake Forest shot a season-best 58.9 percent from the field and out-rebounded Knox 34-23 in the game.
A jumper by Schick gave the visitors the lead for good four-and-a-half minutes into the game. It also began a 13-3 run that extended the margin to nine points at 22-13. The Prairie Fire pulled to within four points twice in the next six minutes but would get no closer. One of three pointers by Nikitas made it a 12-point game with 4:33 to play in the half, which ended with the Foresters ahead 45-36.
A pair of free throws by Forester sophomore center Matt McPherson with 16:04 remaining made the score 57-47 and the Lake Forest lead remained in double figures until the final two minutes of the game. A pair of Knox free throws with 1:48 on the clock made the score 84-75 but the Prairie Fire would not score again.
Lake Forest is now 2-4 overall and 2-3 in Midwest Conference play. Knox fell to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in the league.
The Foresters will host Lawrence University Tuesday night at 7:30.
