March 12, 2016

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – The Gateway Steam snapped a five-game losing streak with a hard-fought 105-100 win over the host Champaign Swarm at Dodds Athletic Center in Champaign Friday.

Champaign opened up a ten-point first quarter lead at 24-14 before closing out the opening period ahead 26-20. The Swarm kept the lead between four and nine points throughout the rest of the first half, taking a 53-46 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Steam then scored the first five points of the third quarter, prompting Swarm coach Daniel Ruffin to call a timeout just 37 seconds into the half. But Gateway continued to make a run, and tied Champaign at 58 with 8:48 to play in the third on a basket by Brandon Goss. A few moments later, Tylon Deal put the Swarm back up five, however, the Steam went on a 7-1 run to take a 67-66 lead on a Jimmy Peyton bucket with 5:38 remaining in the third.

Champaign tied the game at 69 with 3:52 left in the third, but would fall behind 79-74 heading into the fourth.

Another early-quarter burst by Gateway put the Steam up 89-80 with 7:38 to play. Jonathan Mills got the Swarm back to within two at 94-92 with 2:16 to play, and that would be as close as they would get down the stretch, as Connell Crossland buried two long three pointers to put the game out of reach.

Crossland scored 34 points and had nine rebounds for Gateway (4-8), while Lonnel Johnson pumped in 27 and handed out five assists. Newcomer Jimmy Peyton added 14 for the Steam.

James McClain led Champaign (3-10) with a season-high 25 points, while three other Swarm scored in double figures. Jonathan Mills scored nine points and bagged 14 rebounds for the Swarm, which have now lost three in a row.