GRINNELL, Iowa – Playing against the top team in the Midwest Conference, not to mention a squad receiving votes for the national rankings, seemed a daunting task for Grinnell College men's basketball team.
 
But the Pioneers didn't shy away from the challenge in the slightest, battling toe-to-toe with the Blueboys before the visitors escaped Darby Gymnasium with a 110-97 win Saturday.
 
Illinois College scored 22 of the first 29 points of the game for a 15-point lead, but the Pioneers raced back and got within eight at 29-21 on Aiden Gilbert's '23 jumper with 6:57 left in the half.
 
The Blueboys responded, though, and were up 55-41 at the break.
 
Grinnell (6-13, 2-9 MWC) made another charge early in the second half when a 3-pointer by Adam Phillips '23 brought the hosts within 59-53.
 
Illinois College (18-2, 10-1 MWC) answered the call and gradually upped its lead, going up by 29 with 6:11 to go. It was still a 19-point lead with 2:01 left before Grinnell made one last-ditch effort, closing the game with an 8-2 run as Mitch Priest '25 and David Bluder '25 each made treys and Dean Mazlish '23 a basket.
 
Gilbert led Grinnell with 19 points, Bluder scored 15, Phillips tallied 11 and Mazlish put in 10. Sean Walser '26 had five rebounds and three steals, and Zach Rosen '26 dished out five assists.
 
Grinnell returns to Darby Gymnasium Tuesday when Cornell College comes to town. Action tips off at 7:30 p.m.