MADISON, Wis. – Illinois Tech used a strong defensive effort to slow down the Edgewood College Men's Basketball team in a Wednesday night NACC showdown inside the Todd Wehr Edgedome. The Scarlet Hawks held the Eagles to a season-low 56 points in a 66-56 battle.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two teams went back-and-forth early with Edgewood College (7-15, 6-11 NACC) making the first push. The Eagles used a 5-0 stretch midway through the opening half, which included a 3-poit make by Ryan Buss, to go up 15-10. The five-point lead was the largest of the game for Edgewood College.

- With the game tied at 20 with 7:03 remaining in the first half, it was the Scarlet Hawks (9-13, 7-10 NACC) who made their run late in the opening half. Illinois Tech ended the half on a 13-4 run to take a 33-24 lead into the break.

- Illinois Tech used a big advantage on the boards in the first half, thanks in large part to the play of Max Hisatake. Hisatake had 15 rebounds as the Scarlet Hawks outrebounded Edgewood College, 23-10, over the first 20 minutes.

- The Eagles came out strong in the second half, using a 9-2 run to cut the Illinois Tech lead to 35-33. That would be as close as Edgewood College would get as the Scarlet Hawks pulled away for the 66-56 league win.

- Jake Negus paced the Edgewood College offense with 19 points, while Ben Seefeld added 18. Still, the Illinois Tech defense was the story, holding Edgewood College to 34 percent shooting (18-for-53). The Eagles did make 36 percent (9-for-25) from 3-point range and 84.6 percent (11-for-13) from the line.

- Illinois Tech, meanwhile, played efficiently on the offensive end. The Scarlet Hawks shot 47.9 percent (23-for-48) from the floor and 45 percent (9-for-20) from deep.

- Avery Lyons led Edgewood College with seven rebounds, while adding seven points. Buss also chipped in seven points.

THE OPPOSITION
- Illinois Tech ended up winning the rebounding battle, 36-25, on Wednesday night. Hisatake showed why he is the top rebounder in the conference, posting his third-straight 20-rebound game.

- Hisatake was one of four Scarlet Hawks to score in double figures with 13 points. Ahmad Muhammad netted a team-high 17, shooting 5-for-8 from 3-point range. Miles Currey added 14 and Otis Reale chipped in 10.

UP NEXT
- The Eagles will head to the Land of Lincoln for their next two games, beginning with a Saturday trip to face Rockford University. The Eagles and Regents will start at 2 p.m. inside Seaver Gymnasium.