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Cronin's 3-pointer lifts IC past Westminster

Up by 18 less than 11 minutes into the game Friday night it didn't appear that the Immaculate Conception boys basketball team would need a late 3-pointer to pull out a victory.

But that's exactly what the Knights needed and got from Will Cronin to defeat Westminster Christian, 54-51, at the Westminster Christian Thanksgiving Tournament in Elgin.

"(Westminster) did a great job in the second half of maintaining their composure. We lost our composure a little bit," Knights coach Darren Howard said. "I like that early in the season. It gives you a chance to find out who your leaders are."

The Knights (3-0) jumped out to a 22-4 lead with 5:20 remaining in the first half. They forced the Warriors (2-1) into 11 turnovers and just one field goal to that point.

Westminster cut the deficit to 29-17 at the break and scored the first 4 points of the second half to get within 8, 29-21. The Warriors fought all the way back to tie the game 35-35 with 20 seconds left in the third quarter on a Ryan Beachler steal and layup.

Beachler gave Westminster its first lead, 45-44, with two free throws with 3:33 remaining. The game was tied 48-48 when Westminster senior Ben Carani nailed a 3-pointer for a 51-48 lead with 40 seconds left. After Demitrius Mobley hit 1 of 2 free throws and the Warriors missed a pair of free throws, Cronin hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 5.4 seconds remaining as the Knights took a 52-51 advantage. Stephen Mobley intercepted a long inbounds pass and made two free throws to seal the game.

"That's three games in a row we haven't played well in the first quarter," Westminster coach Bruce Firchau said. "If we could keep the game in the 50s, we knew this was a game we could win. And we had our opportunities."

Mobley led all scorers with 21. Cronin finished with 7 points as 11 different Knights scored. The Knights outrebounded the Warriors 42-27 and grabbed 23 offensive rebounds.

Beachler paced Westminster with 13 points. Carani and Brandon Cork each added 9.

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