Rend Lake College Edges Out St. Louis Community College in a Nail-Biter

In a thrilling matchup on November 5, Rend Lake College narrowly defeated St. Louis Community College (STLCC) 65-64 at the Forest Park gym. The game featured two teams receiving votes in the NJCAA Division II preseason rankings and delivered all the drama fans could hope for.

The Archers started strong, building a 37-30 halftime lead behind sharp shooting and defensive intensity. Zac Goss led STLCC with 15 points, including three three-pointers, while CJ Lang added 9 points and 2 steals. Kyle Gast and Darric Smith chipped in 10 points each, helping the Archers shoot 44.2% from the field and dominate the boards with 39 rebounds.

Despite STLCC opening up a 14-point lead with eight minutes remaining, Rend Lake mounted a furious comeback, outscoring the Archers 21-6 down the stretch. STLCC's 20 turnovers proved costly, giving Rend Lake the opportunities they needed to secure the win.

Head Coach Terry Collins acknowledged the team's struggles late in the game:

"We exhibited great defensive intensity in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Then we started to play tentative and commit several silly fouls. Down the stretch we were not strong with the ball and turned it over multiple times. Give credit to Rend Lake for a strong comeback. They were clearly the better coached team."

The Archers will look to bounce back as they close out a three-game homestand on November 7 at 7:00 p.m., hosting Lewis and Clark Community College at the Forest Park gym.