BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Champaign Swarm have been able to handle every team in the Midwest Professional Basketball Association so far except the Bloomington Flex.

Bloomington (7-1) beat the Champaign Swarm (6-2) for the second time this season, 96-91, and grabbed sole possession of first place Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

The Swarm trailed the entire game and fell behind 19 points in the third quarter before mounting a furious comeback that cut the deficit to three in the final minute.  But Bloomington guard Justin Bocot made a final layup to seal the victory and cap a 35-point performance.

Bloomington’s winning streak stretched to seven games while the Swarm snapped a three-game streak.

Swarm newcomer Avery Smith made a mark in his first start with 30 points, 21 in the second half on 11-of-24 shooting. Arnold Louis added 21 points and Aaron Weaver came off the bench to add 19.

While the Swarm tamed the Bloomington Flex big men who fell into foul trouble, the backcourt tandem of Bocot and Fabyon Harris combined for 57 points.

The Swarm return home to face the Gateway Steam at 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 15 at Parkland College.