The Millikin men's basketball team defeated Robert Morris-Peoria 60-53 on December 4 at the Griswold Center in Decatur, Illinois.

          After a sluggish start to the game, Millikin opened up a 33-20 lead at the half.

Millikin pushed the lead to 19 points with 16 minutes left in the game, but the Eagles battled back and tied the game at 51-51 with 3:14 left to play.  The game was tied again at 53-53 when Millikin finally pulled away for good.  The Big Blue took the lead on a layup by TJ Griffin with 2:14 left to play.  Millikin extended the lead to 58-53 with 1:35 left in the game when freshman Nick Novak hit three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.  Millikin iced the game with 24 seconds left on a basket by freshman TJ Sims.

          Robert Morris-Peoria stayed in the game thanks to a 37-29 rebounding advantage.  The Eagles shot 42 percent from the field while Millikin shot 38.5 percent.  Despite the rebounding deficit, Millikin took nine more shots than the Eagles thanks in part to 34 Robert Morris turnovers. 

          Griffin led Millikin with 16 points, six steals and five rebounds.  Sims had eight points, three assists and two steal.  Nathan Biggs had a team high nine rebounds along with five points. 

          Demaruis Sumral led Robert Morris-Peoria with 14 points.

          Millikin is now 4-2 while the Eagles fall to 0-6.

          Millikin will travel to NCAA Division II opponent the University of Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, December 6 for a 3 p.m. contest.