The Forester men's basketball team nearly overcame a 19-point deficit but fell 71-70 to Knox College at home on Saturday.
Lake Forest trailed 44-25 at halftime before rallying in the final 20 minutes. The Foresters scored the first six points of the second half to make it a 13-point game and finally trimmed the margin to single digits on a three-pointer by junior guard Rocco Ronzio with 8:45 remaining. A three-pointer by sophomore guard Elijah Bull made it a six-point game a minute later and a basketball by senior forward Johnny Roeser cut the deficit to just two points with 3:50 to play. Ronzio connected again from beyond the arc to make the score 61-60 with a minute-and-a-half left but the Prairie Fire responded with a three-pointer of their own on the next possession.
The Foresters scored 10 points in the final minute but the Prairie Fire went 5-for-6 from the foul line to keep the home team from completing the comeback. One last three-pointer by Roeser made the score 71-70 with 0.9 on the clock and the Prairie Fire were able to inbound the ball to clinch the victory.
Sophomore guard Alex Knight led Lake Forest with 21 points while Ronzio and Roeser also reached double figures with 14 and 12, respectively. Roeser pulled down a team-high seven rebounds but Knox had a 40-29 edge on the boards.
The loss dropped the Foresters' overall record to 8-10 and Midwest Conference mark to 5-4. Knox improved to 4-13 overall and 2-6 in the league.
Lake Forest will host Monmouth College next Wednesday with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.