CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Champaign Swarm have prided themselves on defense this season.

But in their last two games, they have allowed their two highest opponent scores. They survived the Chicago Force last Thursday with a 115-112 win, but they suffered their worst loss on Sunday at St. Louis, 113-89.

Finding themselves in third place and 1 1/2 games behind Bloomington, the Swarm will attempt to mute the Force offense this Thursday night in an early 6 p.m. tipoff against the Chicago Force at Parkland College.

See full game notes here.

Avery Smith has proved himself as a true scorer who can create off the dribble and shoot from the outside. The Swarm point guard has averaged 29.5 points in his last three games, including 36 points in the losing effort against St. Louis on Sunday.

The Force stumbled at Gateway on Sunday with a 96-88 loss, but they were missing Derrick McDonald to a family emergency. McDonald averages 24.0 points per game along with 12.1 rebounds per game.

Thursday night is Educator Appreciation Night.   All Champaign County educators administrators receive free admission, compliments of Flooring Surfaces, Inc.