Barnett’s Career Night Powers Chargers Past Kishwaukee

GALESBURG — Sophomore Connor Barnett racked up a career-high 21 points and the Carl Sandburg College men's basketball team held on for a 69-66 Arrowhead Conference victory over Kishwaukee on Tuesday at John Lewis Gym.

KEY MOMENTS
• The Chargers came out hot early, hitting eight first-half 3-pointers to take a 37-20 lead into the locker room. A 10-0 run that included 3s from Barnett, Griffin Ronnebeck and Roee Dinnar put Sandburg ahead 16-4. The Chargers (7-16, 1-5) added an 11-0 run later in the half for a 30-12 advantage. Barnett bookended the stretch with a pair of three-point plays, and Myles Estrada knocked down one of his three 3s on the night during the run.
• The Kougars chipped away in the second half and used an 18-2 stretch to claw within 57-53 with 5:45 to play.
• Leading 65-62, Hunter Caves hit a big shot with 1:20 left to push Sandburg's lead back to five. A pair of Barnett free throws with :23.9 left made it 69-64, but Kishwaukee got back within 69-66 on Carion Hale's putback with :13.6 to play. Kishwaukee had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but Jackson Chatman's 3-point attempt was off the mark.

SANDBURG STANDOUT
Barnett paced the Chargers with 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting. He finished 3 of 5 from long distance and knocked down 6 of his 7 foul shots. The sophomore guard also had six rebounds, four assists and a steal. The performance surpassed his previous career high of 18 points Feb. 8, 2022, against Highland.

OTHER TOP CHARGERS
• Estrada — 9 points, 3 of 8 3s
• Dashawn Wells — 8 points, 3 of 8 field goals
• Aidan Wagner — 7 points, 4 of 4 free throws
• Hunter Caves — 7 points, 3 of 4 field goals, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

FOR THE KOUGARS
• Cameron Russell — 22 points, 11 rebounds
• Brennen McNally — 21 points, 6 rebounds

UP NEXT FOR SANDBURG
7 p.m. Thursday at Highland

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