Huber Makes Free Throw to Beat Lake Forest in OT

Thomas Nets 30, Brown Adds Another Double Double

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (01/22/2026) — The Monmouth College men's basketball team got a career-high 30 points from sophomore Cameron Thomas (Arlington, Texas) as they won at Lake Forest 97-96 in overtime on Wednesday, The Fighting Scots (14-4, 9-0) have won six games in a row and are off to their best start in over 30 years.

"I'm not sure what to even say after that game,' said head coach Todd Skrivseth. "A tremendous road win against a very good Lake Forest team. I thought we controlled the game for the first 30 minutes and had to withstand a furious comeback by LFC."

Monmouth's first two baskets of the game were 3-pointers by Thomas and Jason Huber (Carpentersville, Illinois) for a 6-4 lead. Thomas made a layup and Zay Brown (Peoria, Illinois) hit two free throws for a 7-0 Monmouth run. Kyle Taylor (Moline, Illinois) hit a jumper and Thomas hit another 3-pointer before LFC went on a run to lead 19-15. Thomas hit a 3-pointer, Turner Plumer (Canton, Illinois) scored and Brown capped a Monmouth run for a 22-19 lead. Thomas and Jase Whiteman (Andalusia, Illinois) pushed the lead to nine with 3-pointers.

After LFC scored twice, Max Maring (Port Byron, Illinois) posted a bucket and Huber scored four points. Brown made two free throws and Thomas scored for a 38-26 lead. The Foresters scored the next seven but Kamran Banks (Springfield, Illinois) hit a 3-pointer and Brown scored to push the lead back to double digits. Brown scored again and Taylor hit a 3-pointer for a 48-39 lead before LFC scored the final basket of the half.

Maring started the second half with a bucket and Thomas made his fifth 3-pointer of the game for a 53-41 lead. Thomas knocked down another 3-pointer and Taylor scored on a layup before Brown threw down a dunk. Thomas made two free throws for a 15-point lead before LFC scored four in a row. Thomas put the Scots up 64-51 with a layup but LFC responded with a 7-2 run. Whiteman knocked down a 3-pointer to push the lead back to 11. Brown scored and Thomas made two free throws for a 73-60 lead with 10:23 to play.

Lake Forest stormed back with a 13-2 run as they pulled within two. Brown made two free throws and hit a jumper as the teams traded points. Taylor put the Scots up 81-77 with five minutes to play and then hit another jumper after a LFC miss. Taylor added two free throws as he scored six straight points with Monmouth up 86-78. Huber hit a free throw for an 87-80 lead but the Scots missed their next two shots and turned the ball over as LFC scored five straight points. The Foresters called timeout with 53 seconds left and Monmouth missed two free throws with 32 seconds left. Lake Forest took advantage, tying the game with 18 seconds to play. The game went to overtime after LFC blocked a shot on Monmouth's final possession.

Lake Forest scored first in OT to take their first lead since early in the game. After a pair of Monmouth misses, LFC hit a 3-pointer to lead 91-87. Thomas made two free throws with 2:44 to play and Brown scored off a turnover. Brown knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:31 to play to put the Scots back on top before the teams traded turnovers. Lake Forest regained the lead with a 3-pointer and Taylor tied the game at 96 with 11 seconds left. The hosts had a chance to win but Taylor knocked the ball loose at the top of the key and Huber drove to the rim, getting fouled with 0.4 seconds left. The senior calmly made the first free throw for a 97-96 Monmouth win.

"Our guys showed tremendous grit finding a way to win in OT," said Skrivseth. "Kyle's jumper with nine seconds left was huge and then he made a great defensive play to create Huber's breakaway. Huber knocked down that game winning free throw after Cam Thomas hit some big shots and Zay had another big night on both ends of the floor."

Thomas led the Scots with a career-high 30 points while Brown added 25 and Taylor had 18. Brown added 12 rebounds for a double-double and Taylor dished out eight assists. Huber had three steals while Taylor grabbed two and Brown blocked two shots.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Brown has scored in double digits in every game he has played this season and in 28 straight games dating back to last season ... The 28-game streak is the second longest in Monmouth history, four behind the record ... Brown tied John Pica for 10th in career blocks with 54 ... Thomas has scored at least 10 points in 12 straight games and he has 16 double digit games this season ... Thomas made a career-high six 3-pointers, the most since Taylor hit six two seasons ago ... With two steals, Taylor has 133 in his carer, tying Paul Engo for second in Monmouth history, 38 behind Will Jones' record of 171 ...Taylor played in his 95th career game, fifth most in Monmouth history ... The 9-0 start in conference is the best since the 1989-90 team went undefeated as MWC Champions at 13-0 ... The senior class has won 61 games over four years, the most in 33 years and tied for 10th amongst all senior classes in MC history ... The Scots were 13-5 after 18 games last year and the 14-4 mark is is the best after 18 games since the 1989-90 team was 16-2 ... Lake Forest leads the all-time series 56-41 ... Last year the Scots won both regular season games last year but LFC won in the MWC Tournament ... The Scots are 15-14 against Lake Forest under coach Skrivseth with a 9-5 mark on the road ... Monmouth has won four in a row at LFC ... Monmouth is at home on Tuesday against Cornell with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.