Men's Basketball Falls to Illinois Tech 73-67 to Open the 2021-22 Season

CHICAGO – The Roosevelt University men's basketball team lost to NCAA Division III member Illinois Tech by the score of 73-67 to open the 2021-22 season on Saturday, October 30 at the Keating Sports Center.

Both teams hit two three-pointers each to begin the game and the Lakers got consecutive layup baskets from Jurguen Ramos and Andrew Veon to take a 12-8 lead with 12:43 to go in the first half.  With the game tied up at 17-17, the Scarlet Hawks then scored four straight points to lead 21-17, but the Lakers came back to regain the lead at 25-23 on a Eetu Villa three-pointer with 5:10 to go.  RU pushed the lead to 28-23 on another three-pointer, this time by Ramos, but the Lakers went scoreless for the next three and a half minutes and trailed 31-30 at the half.

Roosevelt took a 36-31 lead to begin the second half behind baskets from Villa, Justis Mouton, and Ayomide Ajoboye.  However, Illinois Tech scored the next nine points to go ahead 40-36 with 14:30 left to play.  Both teams struggled offensively until the Scarlet Hawks built a 50-40 margin with 10:53 to go and would lead the rest of the way with the Lakers not able to get closer than three points, falling 73-67 to begin the new season.

GAME DETAILS

Score:   Roosevelt            30           37           67
                Illinois Tech        31           42           73

Records: Roosevelt 0-1 // Illinois Tech 0-0 (game counted as an exhibition)

Location: Keating Sports Center | Chicago, Ill.

KEY STATS

• Ayomide Ajiboye led the Lakers with 16 points
• Andrew Veon scored 11 points
• Josh Redic added 10 points & three assists
• Mark Johnson grabbed a team-high five rebounds
• The Lakers shot 59.1% from the field compared to the Scarlet Hawks 61.9%
• RU shot 47.1% from behind the arc, while IIT shot 56.3%
• The Lakers bench outscored te Scarlet Hawks bench 31-6

NEWS & NOTES

• The Lakers now own a 2-1 all-time record versus the Scarlet Hawks
• This was the only non-conference game scheduled before the Lakers begin CCAC Conference play on Wednesday, November 3

NEXT UP

The Lakers host Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) on Wednesday, November 3 in their CCAC Conference opener.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm at the Goodman Center following the women's game that begins at 5:30pm.