The Alice Lloyd Eagles played host to the KIAC’S top rated team, the Grenadiers of Indiana University Southeast on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles battled hard before eventually succumbing 86-71.
In the first half, the Eagles came out of the gates on fire. A Brandon Hayes three-point play followed by a Terry Muse power move sparked the hosts to a 10-2 lead at the 16:02 mark. When Alice Lloyd’s Brent Hall connected from fifteen feet at the 12:00 mark, ALC still led 14-7.
IU Southeast then flexed their muscles. Sparked by jet-quick guard Wes Cox, the Grenadiers exploded on a 23-6 run in just over six minutes and vaulted ahead 30-20 with 5:21 remaining.
Alice Lloyd settled down. When Eagles guard Clint Stepp drained a 25-foot bomb just before the buzzer, the halftime score was set at 42-33 in IUSE’s favor.
In the last half, the visitors opened on a quick 6-0 run. They maintained their cushion throughout the next eight minutes and led 63-46 at the midway point.
The Eagles refused to fold and kept battling back, but they never got closer than fourteen points the rest of the way.
For ALC (8-7, 0-1 KIAC), Stepp and Shawn Thompson tied for team scoring honors with 14 apiece. Isaac Wilson chipped in with 12. Brandon Hayes and Casey Dalton each added 8.
IU Southeast (12-6, 2-0 KIAC) was led by Cox with a game-high 25 points.