CHICAGO – Roosevelt made some clutch shots late in regulation to comfortably defeat Marian 78-63 on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at the Goodman Center.

The Lakers (3-6) led by as many as 27 in the second half after putting the clamps on the Knights for the first 25 minutes of play. Marian shot just 25 percent from the field in the first half to help Roosevelt build a 20-point lead at the intermission. Roosevelt then came out and scored 11 of the first 15 points of the second half to seemingly take full control of the game.

Forte Prater scored 16 points in the first half, but was stuck on that number until midway through the second half when he hit a stepback jumper. The senior finished with 25 points in the game, but it was the supporting cast that stepped up around him. Prater had six assists in the second half, meaning he had a part in nine of the 12 baskets the Lakers made over the final 20 minutes.

Kennedy Brown scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half, making 4 of 5 from the floor and all four of his free throws. Enari Thomas also scored 14 in the game while battling foul trouble and Ramean Hinton had nine points and six boards. Roosevelt also picked up timely baskets from Jaylen Montgomery and Aedan Campos to help stop the Knights' momentum.

After going ahead by 27 in the second half, Roosevelt allowed Marian to creep back into the game with a 12-0 run over a four-minute span. Brown's two free throws ended that spurt, but the Knights then knocked on the door of cutting the deficit into single digits before Campos knocked down a critical 3-pointer. Prater drew a charge at the other end then made a 3 of his own on the Lakers' next possession to halt any hope of a comeback with 5 minutes left.

The Lakers finished with 21 points off 14 Marian turnovers and set a season-high against NAIA and NCAA teams with 14 assists. Brown led the charge on the glass with nine rebounds, finishing a board shy of his fourth double-double of the season.  

UP NEXT: Roosevelt will get its first chance at avenging an earlier loss on Tuesday afternoon when it hosts Upper Iowa at 2 p.m. at the Goodman Center. The Peacocks defeated the Lakers 105-78 on Nov. 10 on a neutral court.