Dylan Mulvihill realizes No. 7 Evanston is missing a significant rebounding presence without injured Elyjah Williams and understands it’s largely his responsibility to make up for that.
Mulvihill stepped into that role Thursday as he grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds and added 15 points to lead Evanston to a 58-53 home win over Maine South to remain unbeaten in the Central Suburban South.
“He’s good for almost 10 rebounds a game,” Mulvihill said of Williams, who is out with a broken toe. “I have to make up for that.”
Evanston (13-2, 5-0) had a firm grasp of the game after two quarters, leading 36-21 at halftime. But Maine South (12-5, 3-2) made it interesting behind 20 combined points by Jon Arenas and Milos Ljiljak in the third quarter.
Evanston held off the Hawks in the fourth quarter by not allowing a field goal until less than a minute remained in the game. Evanston began the quarter on an 8-3 run.
Arenas scored a game-high 23 points. Ljiljak scored all of his 16 points in the second half.
Evanston junior forward Nojel Eastern scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the first half.
Scott Powers is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Dylan Mulvihill, Evanston, 15 points, 14 rebounds.
Key performers: Evanston – Nojel Eastern, 17 points; Chris Hamil, 10 points; Maine South – Jon Arenas, 23 points; Milos Ljiljak, 16 points, 4 3-pointers; Brad Perry, 11 points, 7 rebounds.