ELGIN, Ill. — Freshman guard Michael Patton (West Side) nailed a 3-pointer with 12:45 left in the second half and brought the Peregrines to within seven points of the conference leading Judson Eagles. But a 14-6 run by the Eagles during the next six-plus minutes put the game out of reach leading to an 80-56 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference win for the home team.

The Peregrines (2-16, 0-2 CCAC) opened the contest with a 15-6 lead, their largest lead of the night, hitting seven of their first 13 shots. PUC kept the lead until the Eagles game-high scorer Ilija Bojanic (19 points) hit a 3-pointer for a 28-27 lead. The Eagles went on a 12-2 run to close the half with a 40-29 advantage.

The Peregrines kept within striking distance for the first seven-plus minutes of the second half before the Eagles pulled away.

Junior forward Charles Cruz, who leads the Peregrines with 15.4 points per game, finished with 17 points shooting 50 percent from the field, five rebounds and three assists. Junior center Kevin Thomas (Highland) also shot 50 percent from the field and scored nine points.

Freshman starting guard Antonio McNeal (Gavit) scored eight points and had two rebounds and assists in the loss. Off the bench, freshman forward Antonio Hurt (Michigan City) led the team with three shot blocks and added eight points and five rebounds. 

Patton grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds in the game and scored seven points and had two assists and shot blocks. Freshman guard Josh Collins (MacArthur, San Antonio, Texas) pulled down a dozen rebounds, his season high.

The Peregrines shot 42 percent in the first half, but cooled in the second 20 minutes hitting 29 percent from the field. The Eagles (10-6, 3-0) edged the Peregrines on the glass finishing with 43 rebounds to the Peregrines 42.

PUC hosts Calumet College this Saturday at 3 p.m. Local entertainer Mr. Pierogi, of the Whiting, Ind., Pierogi Fest, will challenge the Peregrine mascots in a shot contest. Pierogis, polish sausages and Polka dancing will be the features in the doubleheader action with the Crimson Wave.