CENTRALIA - Rend Lake College was down by as many as 16 points against Kaskaskia College tonight in Centralia. However, they didn't give up and capitalized on a Blue Devils team in second-half foul trouble to win their second-straight game in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference, 73-68, with only two to go before the Region XXIV tournament.

The Warriors entered halftime down 11. The deficit grew to 16 before the comeback kicked in. With sophomore slashing guard C.J. Trotter and freshman point guard Reggie Reed back in the lineup, RLC picked things up defensively, hit some shots and made free throws when they had to down the stretch, according to Warriors Head Coach Tim Wills.

"It helped having C.J. back and Reggie was able to play. It helped more mentally than anything else. Neither of them were 100 percent tonight, but I think it was big boost that everyone felt we were closer to 100 percent as a team."

Rend Lake hit 23 of 33 from the free-throw line, compared to KC's 11-17, but only committed four less fouls than the Blue Devils. RLC sophomore Brian Gamber (Mt. Vernon) led all scorers with 26 after hitting four three-pointers and going 10-13 from the line.

The Warriors will play Saturday in Belleville against Southwestern Illinois College. The RLC versus KC game played tonight can be viewed online at www.areasports.net.

BOX SCORE

RLC (73) - Abraham 1,0-0, 3 Reed 4, 8-10, 17 Badger 0,0-0,0 Gamber 6, 10-13, 26 Davis 3, 3-6, 10 Thurau 2, 0-0, 4 Psyrris 0,0-2, 0 Trotter 3, 2-2, 9 Carpenter 2, 0-0, 4

21 field goals, 23-33 from the line for 73

KC (68) - Grissette 4, 4-5, 13 Daniels 0,4-4, 4 Harlston 2,0-0,4 Broughton 5,0-0,12 Lee 9,2-5,20 Francis 0,0-0,0 Baines 5, 1-3, 11 Williams 2,0-0, 4

27 field goals, 11-17 from the free-throw line for 68

Halftime score RLC 24 KC 35; 3-point goals RLC 8 (Gamber 4, Abraham, Reed, Davis, Trotter) KC 3 (Grissette, Broughton 2); Team fouls RLC 20 KC 24; Records RLC 14-12, 4-10