Despite a season-high 24 points from senior guard Aram Arslanian, Lake Forest was defeated 87-76 by Illinois College at home Friday night.
Arslanian was joined in double figures by junior guard Sean Espinosa with 17 points, senior guard Sam Husting with 12, and junior wing Michael Drew Jr. with a season-high 11. Drew also led the home team with eight rebounds and three steals, Husting knocked down four three-pointers, and Espinosa dished out a game-high five assists.
The Foresters shot 43.9 percent from the field while the Blueboys connected on 51.7 percent of their field goal attempts. Illinois College outscored the home team 30-27 on three-pointers and 15-9 from the foul line while the Foresters had a slight 35-34 edge in rebounds.
After back-and-forth play in the first few minutes, the Blueboys pulled out to a nine-point lead on three different occasions in the opening period, the last at 33-24 with five minutes remaining. The Foresters then scored the game's next 10 points to regain the lead and the lead changed hands for the 10th and final time in the half on a basket by Drew in the final 10 seconds, making the score 40-39 in favor of the home team at the break.
What turned out to be the final lead change of the game came on an Illinois College three-pointer with 16:48 to play in the contest. The Blueboys grew their lead to 11 points at 66-55 before seven straight points by the Foresters made it a four-point game with 7:22 left. The difference was soon back to 11 before three-pointers by Espinosa and freshman wing Reece Taylor made the score 77-72 with two minutes on the clock. Lake Forest got no closer, however, as the visitors made all 10 of their free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
The loss dropped the Foresters' overall record on the season to 8-9 and their Midwest Conference mark is now even at 5-5. Illinois College improved to 5-13 overall and 3-8 in the league.
Lake Forest will host Knox College Saturday afternoon at 1:00.
