Box Score

Fresh off a tough defeat on Thursday night, the news that sophomore guard Jordan Mach would be lost for the season with a knee injury, and an early double digit deficit ... the Rangers answered by slapping adversity in the face. Leneal Harris scored a game-high 20 points and Jeremy Saffold added 16 as Parkside earned a hard-fought 76-62 win at Maryville on Saturday afternoon.

"This was definitely a character win," said Coach Reigel. "Thursday was the first time we let things affect us but when one of your better players gets hurt on the first play it can definitely throw you off. I'm extremely proud of how the guys responded today."

The Rangers improved to 8-4 overall in earning their first conference win (1-3 GLVC). The Saints, who used a last-second three-pointer to beat Lewis on Thursday, fell to 8-4 as well and 2-3 in the GLVC.

Things did not start out well for Parkside as the Saints jumped out to a 14-4 lead with 12:27 left in the first half. From there though the Rangers found their footing and started a quick 13-3 run to tie the game. Harris had a three-point play and Sam Katula and Colt Grandstaff added three's to key the comeback.

Maryville was able to push it back to five but four points by Harris cut the deficit to one at the break.

The lead went back-and-forth in the opening minutes of the second half with a jumper by Ryan Shotkoski giving the Saints a 42-40 advantage with 13:41 to go.

This time the Rangers' run would seize control of the game. Parkside started a 13-4 run on a three by Harris and pushed the advantage to seven on a jumper by Saffold; his sixth point of the spurt.

Parkside pushed the lead to 10 and fought off a final push from Maryville. Asa Toney scored four straight points to trim the lead to six but Kevin Senechalle came right back by hammering down a dunk, making it 70-62 with 1:34 to go and all but seal the game.

The Rangers finished the day shooting 44.4% and 82.1% at the free throw line. They earned a big advantage at the charity strip going 23-for-28. Parkside also outrebounded the Saints, 33-23.

Mike Ford led Maryville with 14 points while Corey Washburn had 13. The Rangers held the Saints top scorer Toney, to seven points with four coming the last two minutes.

Parkside will look to build on this momentum when they return to the DeSimone Gymnasium Thursday for a 7:30 tip-off against Illinois Springfield.