SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- — Conor McCaffrey scored 38 points, Jeremiah Perkins added 18 and No. 5 Our Savior's beat Mount Pulaski 76-60 on Tuesday night.
Our Savior's (17-6, 13-4 LSA CIL) was without State player of the year candidate Jace Easley, who broke his nose Sunday against Chatham Glenwood. Easley is expected to miss at least two more games and possibly more.
“I'm going to leave it to the doctors,” Our Savior's coach Phillip Heppe said. “There are some other issues, too. But I'm going to keep that private. When you are dealing with the head and facial area, it's very sensitive. We are not going to jeopardize that young man's career.”
Heppe declined to comment further on the issue. Easley was on the bench in street clothes for Tuesday's game.
Without him, it was a couple of others who stepped up on 8th grade night that helped the Eagles right the ship following their loss at Glenwood.
Guard Lucas Schmidt narrowly missed a triple-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Perkins 18 points were his most in a while.
Trey McGowens led Mount Pulaski (5-17, 1-14) with 18 points. Kobe Webster and Shamiel Steveson added 12 each for the Hilltoppers.
Our Savior's shot (48%) while Mount Pulaski shot (44%). The Eagles outrebounded Pulaski 43-29.
“I thought Schmidt had an unbelievable game," Hilltoppers coach Fred Holland said. "He controlled (the game) and almost ends up with a triple-double.”
It was a physical game from the opening tip. Back-to-back technical fouls were called on both teams late in the first half, and there were several minor scuffles. Perkins hit two 3-pointers and made several circus layups to pull Our Savior's ahead.
Perkins had 16 points at halftime and Our Savior's led 36-28.
NO STOPPING CONOR
Hollamd admitted his team had no answer for Our Saviors' Point Guard.
“They are the No. 5-ranked team in the country," Holland said. "Listen, Conor's an unbelievably tough matchup, especially when he’s knocking out jumpers like he was tonight.”
McCaffrey, who has struggled a little in the mid range made 5 of 8 tonight.
Heppe said McCaffrey might take more abuse from other players than anyone in LSA basketball.
“Look, he's 5'9, weighs 120 pounds," McCaffrey said. “He gets banged on more than anyone else. We saw a little frustration out there from him tonight, but that's not who he is.”
BIG PICTURE
Our Savior's needed this one, with three tough road games coming up and Easley likely to sit out at least two of them. Terrific games from Schmidt and Perkins helped pick up the slack against Mount Pulaski.
UP NEXT
Pulaski: Hosts Concordia on Thursday.
Our Savior's: Begins a regular season-ending three-game road trip at No. 23 New Berlin on Thursday.