DUNGEON MASTERS: Second-half run lifts Raiders at Olney Central

Three Rivers guard Deion Wesson (right) shoots as he is guarded by Olney Central’s Jose Reche during Saturday’s men’s junior college basketball game at the Dungeon in Olney, Illinois.

DAR/Mike Buhler

OLNEY, Ill. — Saying the Three Rivers College men’s basketball team started the second half of Saturday’s game on fire against the Olney Central Blue Knights might be the biggest understatement of the season thus far.

The Raiders scored the first 24 points of the second half to turn a close game into a rout and an 86-59 win over Olney Central at the Dungeon.

Three Rivers (7-2) trailed much of the first half, but used a 21-9 run to late in the half to take a 41-35 lead before a late Blue Knights’ basket cut the lead to 41-37 at the intermission.

However, the Raiders used their superior depth to wear down Olney Central, which played just eight players on Saturday. Three Rivers trailed the Blue Knights 26-20 in the first half before dominating the rest of the contest.

The Raiders also dominated statistically, shooting 55% (36-for-65) in the game and also hauling down 54 rebounds while holding Olney Central to just 36% shooting on the day (20-for-56).

Deion Wesson led Three Rivers with a season-high 18 points, while Matt Hampton added 16, Demetris “Meechie” White had 11, Will Patterson contributed nine and Ethan Johnson added eight off the bench. Patterson also had 10 rebounds, while Wesson dished off nine assists and White had three steals. Wesson also added seven rebounds, while White had six.

Jahlil Bethea paced the Blue Knights with 17 points, while Kasym Nash added 16 and Logan Webb finished with 11 and added five steals.

The Raiders are back on the court on Thanksgiving night when they host Southern Arkansas University Tech in the Bank of Grandin Classic at the Libla Family Sports Complex. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.