Scots Rally Past Blackburn for Fourth Straight Win

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (12/15/2025) — The Monmouth College men's basketball team made it four wins in a row with a 76-66 non-conference win over Blackburn at home on Sunday. The Fighting Scots (8-2) put four players in double figures while sweeping the home weekend.

Payton Crims (Alsip, Illinois) scored the first bucket of the game on a putback before Blackburn hit a pair of 3-pointers. Zay Brown (Peoria, Illinois) scored the next four points and Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) put the Scots up 9-6 with a 3-pointer. The Beavers hit two more shots from distance during a 12-2 run as they pushed the lead to 18-11 before Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) scored. Kam Banks (Springfield, Illinois) scored in the paint but Blackburn hit two more 3-pointers for a 24-15 lead. Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) answered with a 3-pointer and Banks scored in transition for a 5-0 Monmouth run. Blackburn answered with a pair of buckets to lead 28-20 with 5:30 left in the half.

Huber scored on a putback, got fouled and made the free throw for a 3-point play. Maring made two free throws, Brown scored on a layup and Huber's putback gave the Scots a 29-28 lead. The Beavers hit another 3-pointer, their seventh of the half, and Taylor answered with a 3-pointer as the clock went under one minute. Blackburn scored in the lane and Taylor made two free throws for a 34-33 Monmouth lead at the break.

Blackburn started the second half on a 9-0 run as Maring picked up a technical foul. Cam Thomas (Arlington, Texas) hit a 3-pointer to end the run and Brown made a free throw. Thomas made a free throw and another 3-pointer as the Scots pulled within two. Huber made two free throws to tie the game and Thomas made a pair at the line for a 48-46 lead. Banks scored on a putback and hit a 3-pointer for a personal 5-0 run and the largest Monmouth lead of the day. Brown and Jase Whiteman (Andalusia, Illinois) answered Blackburn scores before Brown scored again for a 59-50 lead. Whiteman put the Scots up 10 with a 3-pointer and Maring scored on a putback.

Blackburn cut the Monmouth lead to five before the starters came back in and Brown hit a jumper in the lane. Brown scored again and the Scots led 68-61 with 2:15 to play. Thomas scored at the rim and Crims had a dunk on a breakaway for a 72-62 lead with 1:24 left. Blackburn scored and started to foul with Huber making two free throws. Taylor added two free throws for a 76-64 lead before the Beavers scored the last bucket of the game.

Brown posted his second straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Huber scored 12 points and grabbed five boards while Thomas scored 11 points and Taylor added 10. Banks had seven rebounds and two assists while Huber and Taylor both had two assists.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Brown had 39 points and 28 rebounds in Monmouth's two weekend wins ... Brown has scored in double digits in every game he has played this season ... Thomas has scored at least 11 points in four straight games ... With 125 career steals, Taylor moved into a tie with Marion Brown for fourth in Monmouth history ... He also passed Steve Glasgow for fifth on the career assists list with 262 ... Monmouth was 17-for-20 at the free throw line and committed just eight turnovers on the day ... The Scots scored 38 points in the paint and 18 second chance points ... The Scots are 6-1 against Blackburn under coach Skrivseth with four straight wins ... The Scots are home on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Loras.

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Monmouth College

Scots Rally Past Blackburn for Fourth Straight Win

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Monmouth College

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