GRINNELL, Iowa – On a day when dozens of men's basketball alums returned to honor retiring head coach David Arseneault, the Grinnell College Pioneers put on a show.
 
Needing a win in its attempt to remain in the hunt for the Midwest Conference Tournament, the Pioneers halted a two-game losing streak with a 129-105 victory over Illinois College at Darby Gymnasium Saturday afternoon.
 
Vinny Curta '19 had 45 points on 14-of-16 shooting from the free throw line and 5-of-10 effort from the 3-point stripe. He nearly had a double-double with nine assists.
 
Hannes Kogelnik '21 erupted for a career-high 32 points, while Sean Cullinane '18 drilled 6-of-8 shots from 3-point land for 20 points. As a team, Grinnell tied its season-high for 3-point percentage with a 41.4 percent efficiency rate (24-of-58).
 
Nathan Balcom '18 had a career-high four assists, Brad Geiman '21 grabbed five rebounds and Griffin Boehm '19 added three steals.
 
Grinnell is now 7-7 in the league and 12-8 overall, while the Blueboys fell to 2-12 in the MWC and 7-14 in all games.
 
Grinnell did all the damage it needed in a two-minute span of the first half. Trailing by three, the Pioneers went on a 13-0 run to take a 25-15 cushion. Kogelnik tied it with a 3-pointer, and Curta added a layup, 3-pointer and two free throws for a 22-15. Another trey by Kogelnik finished off the run.
 
The Pioneers led 67-49 at halftime and cruised from there. In the game, Curta made his 215th field goal of the season to move onto 10th on the Pioneers' all-time list.
 
Grinnell hits the road for Galesburg, Ill., to face Knox College Wednesday.