Sims, Jr. Scores Career-High 30 Points as CSU Men’s Basketball Beats Western Illinois in OT

Sophomore Fred Sims, Jr. tallied a career-best 30 points to lead CSU past Western Illinois in overtime

Box Score

MACOMB, Ill. – Sophomore Fred Sims, Jr. (Chicago, Ill./North Lawndale) scored a career-best 30 points to lead the Chicago State men's basketball team as it broke a two-game losing streak here with a thrilling 83-76 victory over host Western Illinois this afternoon at Western Hall.

WIU took an early 6-2 advantage with just a minute into the game on a three-pointer from Mike Miklusak before the Green and White went on a 14-5 scoring run in eight-plus minutes to gain a 16-11 lead with 11:31 left in the stanza that included Sims, Jr. scoring nine points during that stretch.

The home team then scored eight of the next 11 points in two minutes to pull even at 19-19 at the 9:09 mark before CSU posted a 12-3 run of its own through a three-minute span to recapture a 30-22 leading margin with 6:08 after graduate student Brian Greene, Jr. (Chicago, Ill./Thornton) banked in a three off the backboard from the left side. The Fighting Leathernecks closed the half with a 10-4 scoring drive down the stretch to go into halftime with the Cougars ahead by a slim 34-32 lead.

10 lead changes between both teams in 10 minutes was the story at the start of the second half before the Cougars posted five unanswered points to take a 56-51 lead midway through the stanza. The visitors later broke a 59-59 tie by scoring five of the next six points through two minutes to post a 64-60 lead that ended with a jumper at the 4:57 mark from Sims, Jr. The Leathernecks then recorded a 10-4 run in the final four minutes to even the score at 70 apiece with 1.6 seconds left before senior Trayvon Palmer (Milwaukee, Wis./Brown Deer) missed a potential game-winning shot to send the contest into overtime.

The extra period was all CSU (3-4) needed as Sims, Jr. and Owens combined to score all 13 of its points to gain the win. The play of the period was a three-point play by Owens with 15 seconds left which sealed the game.

In addition to Sims, Jr., Palmer finished with 16 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Owens V added 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting and hit all three of his three-point attempts.

Western Illinois (2-6) had three players score in double figures with Garret Covington recording 30 points and added a game-high nine rebounds.

After a week off for final exams, CSU returns to action on Dec. 10 when it travels to downstate Peoria for a Saturday night battle against host Bradley at Renaissance Coliseum starting at 8 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Trayvon Palmer: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior

#14 Fred Sims, Jr.: G; 6' 4"; Sophomore

#35 Brian Greene, Jr.: G; 6' 3"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#15 Trayvon Palmer
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G/F

#14 Fred Sims, Jr.
: 6' 4"; Sophomore
: G

#35 Brian Greene, Jr.
: 6' 3"; Graduate Student
: G

Scoreboard

Players Mentioned

#15 Trayvon Palmer

#14 Fred Sims, Jr.

#35 Brian Greene, Jr.

Players Mentioned

#15 Trayvon Palmer

#14 Fred Sims, Jr.

#35 Brian Greene, Jr.