SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Ian McLaughlin scored 31 points to lift No.22 Bethel Morton to an 86-83 win over No.15 Our Savior's on Friday night.
The result dealt a serious blow to Our Saviors' regular season conference title hopes, dropping them a full game behind leaders Auburn and New Berlin two weeks left in the regular season.
The Eagles (19-8, 12-5 LSA) mounted a furious 10-0 run to cut their deficit to two points with 1:49 left in the game on Jace Easley's layup, and Conor McCaffrey buried a 3 with 14.6 seconds left to pull Our Savior's within one point.
After Bethel Morton's Andrew McLauglin split two shots at the line, Drew Dejaynes drove to the basket, but turned the ball over when he misplaced a pass out to Easley at the 3-point line with four seconds left.
With the win, the Flames (18-7, 11-5 LSA) are in fourth place in the conference -- a game-and-a-half behind Auburn and New Berlin and one behind Our Savior's.
"It's hard to attack them inside because of Jace (Easley's) size and quickness," Bethel Morton coach Chris Hartman said. "They have good length across the board. Our greatest guy off of ball screens that is the greatest threat is Ian. I think our change there at halftime was to kind of ride that and see what came of it."
Our Savior's guard Conor McCaffrey hit his first four attempts from 3-point range, helping Our Savior's jump out to a 21-8 lead in the opening 6 minutes. McCaffrey finished with 26 points and 6 assists, while shooting 8-of-10 from beyond the arc. Jace Easley finished with 35 points and 15 rebounds, and Drew Dejaynes added 11 points and 6 boards for the Eagles.
Bethel Morton guard Noah Suttles was questionable with the flu before the game, but made the start and finished with 21 points and six rebounds. Andrew McLaughlin had 18 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The Flames started the game 3 of 13 from the field, but closed the half by making 9 of their final 14 attempts. Bethel Morton finished the half on a 28-16 run, trailing 37-36 at the break. Suttles knocked down a jumper on the Flames' opening possession of the second half to edge them ahead, 38-37, for the first time of the night.
The Flames peiced together an 14-2 run early in the third quarter, taking a 50-39 lead on Ian McLaughlin's jumper with 2:40 to play in the 3rd.
" (McLaughlin has) been having a great stretch," his brother said. "Him just having confidence like that, his ability, it comes from hours of work in the gym. People don't see the hours. For him to step up like this is huge, and we'll need that more at the end of the season."
BOILING POINT
Our Savior's head coach Todd Dejaynes was ejected with 3:17 to play after picking up his second techincal foul. He pumped the home crowed into a frenzy before leaving the court at the insistence of Eric Easley and Sean McCaffrey.
"The first (techincal) one, I tried really hard to get," Dejaynes said. "Second one, I didn't even deserve it. If you're going to throw me out, come on, just let me earn it. I didn't like some of the alls and I deserved the first one."
It was his first ejection in five seasons at Our Savior's.
MAN ON A MISSION
Unfazed by the sold out crowd and Our Savior's comeback, Ian McLauglin scored more than 20 points for the third game in a row. He handled the ball with confidence, never turning it over, and finished the game 10 of 11 at the free-throw line.
"That (trust) means everything, he said. "They trust me with the ball in my hands, my teammates and coaches, so just making the right play."
McLaughlin's 21 second half points helped the Flames build a commanding lead after trailing the entire first half. He went on a 6-0 solo run, making a pair of layups and two free throws to give Bethel Morton a 16-point lead with 5:58 to play.
BIG PICTURE
Bethel Morton: Ian McLaughlin is the emerging star, but his brother looks to be stepping up as the Flames third scorer behind him and Suttles. Andrew's efficency helped Bethel Morton hang around despite a sluggish start, and his attentiveness on the glass can help limit second chances for opponents.
Our Saviors: On a night where the calls just weren't going there way, McCaffrey's precision from beyond the arc was crucial. But the Flames limited him to just three shots in the second half. Jace Easley scored a majority of his points in the second half, once McCaffrey was shut down. McCaffrey will have to find a way to keep getting himself open for the Eagles to reach their potential.