Bond, DeMarcus
Aubrey Staton
66
Carthage CARTH 16-9,10-6 CCIW
67
Winner Millikin MIL-U 9-16,5-11 CCIW
Carthage CARTH
16-9,10-6 CCIW
66
Final
67
Millikin MIL-U
9-16,5-11 CCIW
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Carthage CARTH 37 29 66
Millikin MIL-U 32 35 67

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Morgan Vogels

DeMarcus Bond Hits Senior Day Buzzer Beater as Men's Basketball Downs Carthage

The Big Blue men's basketball team matched up against the Firebirds of Carthage College for their final game of the 2023-24 season. Down one with mere seconds remaining, DeMarcus Bond hit the game winner from the left wing to lift the Big Blue over Carthage 67-66.

Before the game they honored seniors Bond, Ethan Gutzmer, Cole Laurence, and Frazier Ott.

JT Welch was the leading scorer with 22 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Bond added 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Ott was the leading rebounder with six. The Big Blue shot 39.7% from the field, going 23-for-58. 

Julian Campbell led the scoring and rebounding columns for the Firebirds with 17 points and 10 rebounds. 

Millikin was down by five at the half. Carthage took a double digit lead with 2:30 remaining, then the Big Blue cut the deficit to right before the end of the half on a three made by Jacob Bullock. 

A three off the hand of Welch started off the first half to cut the Firebird lead to two, then a three by Bond gave MU a one point lead at 38-37. After the Big Blue took a six point lead with 11:15 remaining, Carthage rallied to tie it, then the Big Blue used a jumper by Bond and a layup by Noah Livingston to regain the six point lead.

Millikin went up 61-53 after Carthage received a double technical, with Welch sinking all four free throws. The Firebirds made back to back threes, first by AJ Williams then by Campbell to tie things up at 61 apiece with 3:54 remaining.

Bond gave Millikin a two point cushion with a pair of free throws made, then Ryan Johnson tied things back up. Welch gave Millikin back the lead with a jumper with 1:08 remaining to push the score to 65-63. 

Colton Sigel put the Firebirds on top with eight seconds remaining. Then, the senior Bond took matters into his own hands, tossing up a contested two with the time ticking down to secure the buzzer beater win for the Big Blue.

With the win, Millikin ends the season 9-16 overall, 5-11 in College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin play.
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