Men’s Basketball Recaps

Bryant & Stratton College 01/26/26

In a Top 25 showdown, the #6 Bulldogs (now ranked #9 in the latest poll) traveled to face #25 Bryant & Stratton and escaped with a hard-fought 79–77 victory, improving to 18–4 on the season. The game was tight early, with Bryant & Stratton holding a slim 17–16 advantage at the 11:45 mark of the first half. South Suburban responded with a strong stretch of play, using a 22–10 run to build a 38–27 lead with 2:30 remaining before halftime. The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the locker room, leading 43–32 at the break.

SSC continued to apply pressure early in the second half, stretching the margin to 52–38 with 17:00 left. The Bulldogs maintained a double-digit cushion for much of the half and led 77–67 with four minutes remaining. Despite scoring only two more points over the final stretch, South Suburban’s defense held firm, allowing them to survive and secure the two-point win.

Sophomore guard Samar Bures led the Bulldogs offensively with 24 points and eight assists. Three other sophomores also reached double figures: AJ Abrams finished with 19 points and six rebounds, Tanner Fields added 17 points, and Angel Edmonson chipped in 13. SSC shot 30-of-62 (48.4%) from the field, knocked down 10-of-17 (58.8%) from three-point range, and went 9-of-12 (75%) at the free throw line. Bryant & Stratton shot 28-of-51 (54.9%) overall, 2-of-8 (25%) from beyond the arc, and 19-of-30 (63.3%) from the foul line, while narrowly winning the rebounding battle, 32–30.

Richard J. Daley College 01/24/26

The #6 Bulldogs welcomed NJCAA Division I Richard Daley College to campus and earned an 85–69 victory, improving to 17–4 on the season. Daley, whose roster changed significantly following the Christmas break with the addition of several new players—including their current leading scorer—came out aggressive and grabbed a 23–19 lead with 8:30 remaining in the first half. South Suburban responded down the stretch, closing the half on a 20–14 run to take a 39–34 advantage into the break.

Momentum briefly swung early in the second half as Daley opened on a 6–0 run to reclaim a 40–39 lead with 18:35 to play. The Bulldogs quickly answered, rattling off an 11–3 spurt to go back in front 50–43 at the 15:00 mark. From there, SSC steadily pulled away, pushing the margin to as many as 17 points before sealing the 16-point win.

Offensively, South Suburban was powered by a dominant performance from sophomore guard AJ Abrams, who poured in 36 points while adding five assists. The only other Bulldog to score in double figures was sophomore guard Isaiah Green, who finished with 18 points and five rebounds. SSC shot an efficient 36-of-60 (60%) from the field, went 3-of-10 (30%) from three-point range, and connected on 10-of-17 (58.8%) from the free throw line. Daley shot 20-of-50 (40%) overall, 4-of-14 (28.6%) from beyond the arc, and 25-of-33 (75.8%) at the foul line. The Bulldogs also controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 37–26.

Joliet Junior College 01/22/26

The #6 Bulldogs responded in strong fashion following a tough and controversial loss earlier in the week, returning home to defeat Joliet Junior College 91–77 and improve to 16–4 on the season. South Suburban set the tone early, jumping out to a 12–4 advantage with 13:30 remaining in the first half. Joliet answered with an 8–2 spurt to trim the margin to 14–12, but the Bulldogs regained control down the stretch.

SSC closed the opening half on an impressive 28–11 run, taking a commanding 42–23 lead into halftime. Joliet opened the second half with a 14–4 surge to cut the deficit to 46–37 with 15:00 left, and later pulled within 64–56 at the 8:21 mark. South Suburban responded once again, ripping off a decisive 19–8 run to push the lead back to 83–64 and seal the victory.

Sophomore guard AJ Abrams led all scorers with 27 points while adding five assists, and in the process eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his collegiate career. Tanner Fields followed with 22 points, while Samar Bures contributed 12 points and four assists. Freshman Zach Greene added a career-high 11 points off the bench.

The Bulldogs shot 38-of-67 (56.7%) from the field, knocked down 7-of-19 (36.8%) from three-point range, and went 8-of-13 (61.5%) at the free-throw line. Joliet finished 30-of-63 (47.6%) shooting overall, 1-of-10 (10%) from beyond the arc, and 16-of-24 (66.7%) at the stripe. Joliet held a narrow edge on the glass, 35–33.

Milwaukee Area Technical College 01/20/26

It was a clash of ranked teams as the #6 Bulldogs traveled to face #8 Milwaukee Area Technical College, but South Suburban was unable to hold onto a second-half advantage, falling 89–85 to drop to 15–4 on the season. Playing without two starters who have been sidelined since November, the Bulldogs battled throughout a tightly contested first half and carried a 47–43 lead into the break.

SSC continued to control the tempo early in the second half, stretching the margin to as many as nine points, including a 65–56 advantage with seven minutes remaining. Milwaukee Area Tech responded down the stretch, tying the game at 80 and again at 82. Turnovers in the final two minutes proved costly for the Bulldogs, allowing the hosts to close out the win.

South Suburban was paced by sophomore guard AJ Abrams, who finished with 26 points and five rebounds. Four other Bulldogs reached double figures, including Samar Bures with 16 points and five assists, Tanner Fields with 13 points and six rebounds, and Angel Edmonson and Isaiah Green, who added 10 points each.

Despite the loss, SSC held advantages in several statistical categories, including field goals made, three-pointers, and rebounds (38–35). The difference came at the free-throw line, where Milwaukee Area Tech attempted 39 free throws compared to just 10 for the Bulldogs, as SSC was whistled for 26 fouls while MATC committed only nine.

The Bulldogs shot 36-of-73 (49.3%) from the field, 5-of-15 (35.7%) from three-point range, and 8-of-10 (80%) at the free-throw line. Milwaukee Area Tech finished 27-of-59 (45.8%) shooting overall, 4-of-16 (25%) from beyond the arc, and 31-of-39 (79.5%) from the line.

Illinois Valley Community College 01/17/26

The #8 Bulldogs traveled to Illinois Valley for a Region IV matchup and delivered a convincing 98–65 road victory, improving to 15–3 on the season.

Illinois Valley jumped out to an early 10–9 advantage with 16:43 remaining in the first half, but South Suburban quickly seized control. The Bulldogs responded with a 12–0 run to take a 21–10 lead at the 13:10 mark and never looked back. SSC carried a 53–36 advantage into halftime and continued to methodically extend the lead throughout the second half, pulling away for the 33-point win.

Five sophomores reached double figures for South Suburban. AJ Abrams led the way with 24 points and five assists, while Samar Bures added 21 points and four assists. Tanner Fields contributed 17 points, seven rebounds (six offensive), and five assists. Angel Edmondson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Isaiah Green chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals.

SSC shot an efficient 44-of-72 (61.1%) from the field, 3-of-9 (33.3%) from three-point range, and 7-of-11 (63.6%) from the free-throw line. Illinois Valley finished 25-of-58 (43.1%) shooting overall, 9-of-20 (45%) from beyond the arc, and 6-of-11 (54.5%) at the line. The Bulldogs also controlled the boards, winning the rebounding battle 43–25.

Olive-Harvey College 01/15/26

The #8 NJCAA Division II Bulldogs suffered a narrow 82–79 loss to NJCAA Division I Olive-Harvey College, dropping to 14–3 on the season. The contest unfolded as a tale of two halves, with momentum swinging dramatically after intermission.

The opening half was tightly contested, as Olive-Harvey held an 18–16 edge with 12:14 remaining. South Suburban found its rhythm soon after and built a 41–28 lead late in the half. However, a three-pointer by Olive-Harvey just before the buzzer trimmed the margin to 41–31 at halftime and sparked a shift in momentum.

That momentum carried into the second half, as Olive-Harvey opened on a 7–0 run to cut the deficit to 41–38 with 17:40 to play. The visitors eventually took the lead at 63–58 with 8:10 remaining. SSC continued to battle and briefly reclaimed the advantage, going up 79–76 with 1:22 left. After a missed free throw by sophomore center Angel Edmondson, Olive-Harvey converted on the ensuing possession. The Bulldogs then had opportunities to regain control, but shot attempts by sophomore guards Samar Bures and AJ Abrams were both blocked, leading to fast-break baskets for Olive-Harvey. Trailing 82–79 with nine seconds remaining, SSC had one final chance to tie the game, but a three-point attempt by sophomore guard Tanner Fields hit the front rim at the buzzer.

Sophomore guard Samar Bures led South Suburban with 21 points. Four other Bulldogs scored in double figures, including AJ Abrams with 18 points, sophomore guard Isaiah Green and freshman forward Gakobie McNeal with 13 points apiece, and Angel Edmondson, who added 10 points.

SSC shot 28-for-58 (48.3%) from the field, 4-for-14 (28.6%) from three-point range, and 19-for-25 (76%) at the free-throw line. Olive-Harvey finished 31-for-67 (46.3%) from the field, 7-for-22 (31.8%) from beyond the arc, and 15-for-23 (72.2%) at the line. Olive-Harvey also held a slight edge on the glass, outrebounding SSC 38–35, including 12 offensive rebounds in the second half.

Madison College (WI) 01/13/26

The #8 Bulldogs delivered a dominant performance in a top-10 home matchup against #10 Madison College, building a commanding 51–24 halftime lead and cruising to a 91–72 victory. With the win, South Suburban improved to 14–2 on the season.

The game did not begin in SSC’s favor, as Madison jumped out to an early 11–6 lead with 14:11 remaining in the first half. From that point forward, however, the Bulldogs seized control, closing the half on an emphatic 45–13 run to establish a 27-point advantage at the break. Madison attempted to regain momentum by opening the second half with a 10–3 run, trimming the margin to 54–34, but SSC quickly answered. The Bulldogs responded with an 18–8 surge, stretching the lead to its largest margin at 72–42 with 10:00 remaining, effectively putting the game out of reach.

South Suburban was paced by reigning NJCAA Division II National Player of the Week, sophomore guard AJ Abrams, who scored 28 points. Sophomore guard Isaiah Green matched his career high with 22 points, while Tanner Fields rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points.

SSC shot 40-for-72 (55.6%) from the field, 3-for-12 (25%) from three-point range, and 8-for-13 (61.5%) at the free-throw line. Madison finished 20-for-54 (37%) from the field, 8-for-21 (38.1%) from beyond the arc, and 24-for-32 (75%) at the line. The Bulldogs also controlled the boards, winning the rebounding battle 43–32.

Blackhawk Technical College 01/06/26

The #8 Bulldogs shook off some early rust to open the 2026 calendar year, pulling away for a 116–67 victory over Blackhawk Technical College. Coming off a two-week layoff, South Suburban struggled to find its rhythm in the first half and trailed 38–30 with 2:45 remaining. SSC responded by closing the half on an 8–0 burst, sending the game into the break tied at 38–38.

Any signs of sluggishness disappeared quickly after halftime. The Bulldogs opened the second half with an 11–0 run to seize control at 49–38 with 17:30 left, then turned the game into a rout with an explosive offensive display. SSC poured in 78 second-half points, steadily widening the gap and cruising to the 49-point win. With the victory, South Suburban improved to 13–2 on the season.

South Suburban showcased balance and depth, with three players posting career highs. Sophomore guard Tanner Fields scored 25 points, while freshman forwards Gakobie McNeal (16 points) and Jude Drake (10 points) each set new personal bests. Sophomore guard AJ Abrams led all scorers with 29 points and recorded a triple-double, adding 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Fellow sophomore guard Samar Bures also delivered an all-around performance, finishing with 20 points, 12 assists, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals.

SSC shot an efficient 48-for-75 (60%) from the field, 7-for-14 (50%) from three-point range, and 13-for-21 (61.9%) at the free-throw line. Black Hawk Tech finished 24-for-60 (40%) from the field, 2-for-21 (14.3%) from beyond the arc, and 16-for-21 (76.2%) at the line. The Bulldogs dominated the glass as well, winning the rebounding battle 45–25.

Waubonsee Community College 12/22/25

The #9 Bulldogs wrapped up their six-game, end-of-year road trip with a dramatic 77–76 victory over nationally ranked Waubonsee Community College. South Suburban set the tone early, opening the game with the first 10 points and building its largest lead of the night at 32–15 with 8:50 remaining in the first half. Waubonsee responded with the poise of a ranked opponent, closing the half on a 24–10 run to cut the deficit to 42–39 at the break.

The second half delivered nonstop intensity and momentum swings. SSC briefly stretched the lead to 53–47 with 15:30 remaining, but Waubonsee answered with a 10–0 surge to grab a 57–53 advantage at the 11:40 mark. After sophomore guard AJ Abrams converted two free throws, the Bulldogs reclaimed the lead at 58–57 and pushed it to 67–63 with six minutes left. Waubonsee countered again, using an 8–2 run to move in front 71–69 with 3:50 to play.

The final minutes were filled with tension as the lead changed hands, and Waubonsee held a 76–75 edge with 1:30 remaining. Sophomore guard Isaiah Green delivered the decisive basket, knocking down a 17-foot jumper with one-minute left to give SSC the lead for good at 77–76. Neither team scored over the final minute, but the closing seconds were packed with drama. Waubonsee missed a shot with 47 seconds remaining, and SSC secured the rebound. After a blocked Bulldogs basket attempt led to a shot-clock violation, Waubonsee had one final chance. Following a timeout with 3.2 seconds left, Waubonsee drove to the basket, where Abrams came up with a game-saving block on the final shot attempt to secure the win.

Abrams led all scorers with 28 points, adding 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Four other Bulldogs reached double figures, including Tanner Fields with 15 points, Samar Bures with 12, and Angel Edmondson and Isaiah Green, who each scored 10 points. Green and Bures also contributed 6 and 5 assists, respectively.

SSC shot 35-for-68 (51.5%) from the field, 3-for-13 (23.1%) from three-point range, and 4-for-8 (50%) at the free-throw line. Waubonsee finished 24-for-54 (44.4%) from the field, 3-for-13 (23.1%) from beyond the arc, and 25-for-30 (83.3%) at the line. South Suburban also held the edge on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 36–30.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improved to 12–2 on the season.

Jackson College 12/20/25

The #9 Bulldogs finished their four-game Michigan road trip with a commanding 96–67 win over Jackson College, moving to 11–2 on the season. Jackson came out aggressive and built an early 24–14 advantage, but South Suburban responded with steady defensive pressure and improved offensive execution. By halftime, SSC had flipped the script and headed to the locker room with a 41–34 lead. The Bulldogs took full control after the break, stretching the margin to as many as 30 points and cruising to the 29-point victory.

Sophomore guard AJ Abrams paced the Bulldogs with 23 points, while also contributing 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and an impressive 8 steals. SSC received additional scoring support from Isaiah Green, who finished with 19 points, 9 assists, and 4 steals, along with Samar Bures (13 points) and Angel Edmondson (10 points).

South Suburban shot the ball efficiently, finishing 42-for-69 (60.8%) from the floor, 4-for-12 (33.3%) from three-point range, and 8-for-12 (66.7%) at the free-throw line. Jackson College shot 27-for-52 (51.9%) overall, 4-for-11 (36.4%) from beyond the arc, and 9-for-13 (69.2%) from the line. The Bulldogs also held the edge on the glass, outrebounding Jackson 36–28.

Southwestern Michigan College 12/18/25

The #9 Bulldogs continued their four-game road trip through the state of Michigan with a convincing 91–66 victory over Southwestern Michigan College, improving to 10–2 on the season. SSC jumped out to an early 22–16 lead with 10:00 remaining in the first half and carried that momentum into halftime with a 41–29 advantage. The Bulldogs opened the second half on a dominant 15–2 run, extending the lead to 56–31 with 14:00 left. South Suburban pushed the margin to as many as 29 points at 77–48 with 7:25 remaining and never allowed Southwestern to cut the deficit below 20 points, closing out the 25-point win.

South Suburban had two players set career highs, as sophomore guards Tanner Fields and Isaiah Green scored 25 and 22 points, respectively. Three other Bulldogs reached double figures: sophomore guard Samar Bures with 12 points, and sophomores AJ Abrams and Angel Edmondson, who each added 10 points.

SSC shot 39-for-70 (55.7%) from the field, 8-for-21 (38%) from three-point range, and 5-for-9 (55.6%) at the free-throw line. Southwestern Michigan finished 24-for-56 (42.9%) from the field, 3-for-13 (23.1%) from beyond the arc, and 15-for-21 (71.4%) at the line. South Suburban also controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 42–31.

Grand Rapids Community College 12/13/25

The #13 Bulldogs looked to avenge a home loss from last season in their final game of the Dave Selmon Classic, and they did just that with a 99–82 victory over host Grand Rapids Community College. Ironically, the score matched last year’s contest exactly—only this time in South Suburban’s favor. With the win, SSC improved to 9–2 on the season.

South Suburban jumped out to an early 11–4 lead with 16:30 remaining in the first half, but Grand Rapids responded with a 19–5 run to take a 23–16 advantage at the 12:00 mark. Grand Rapids maintained a slim edge at 34–32 with 5:17 left before SSC closed the half on a 15–6 run, taking a 47–40 lead into the break. The Bulldogs maintained a seven-point margin early in the second half at 57–50 before erupting on a decisive 31–17 run to build an 88–67 lead with 4:53 remaining. South Suburban extended the advantage to 94–71 with 2:41 left, and a last-second three-pointer by Grand Rapids brought the final score to 99–82, once again mirroring last season’s result.

For the second straight night, South Suburban had five players score in double figures. Sophomore guard AJ Abrams led the way with 29 points, while also grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and recording 7 steals. Sophomore guard Tanner Fields posted a career-high 22 points and added 5 rebounds, while sophomore guard Isaiah Green also recorded a career-high with 20 points and 5 steals. Angel Edmondson and Gakobie McNeal each recorded double-doubles, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds apiece.

SSC shot 41-for-77 (53.2%) from the field, 6-for-17 (35.3%) from three-point range, and 11-for-15 (73.3%) at the free-throw line. Grand Rapids finished 29-for-63 (46%) from the field, 6-for-18 (33.3%) from beyond the arc, and 18-for-20 (90%) at the line. South Suburban narrowly won the rebounding battle 38–36.

Sophomore guard AJ Abrams was named MVP of the Dave Selmon Classic, averaging 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 5.5 steals per game. Tanner Fields was also named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.5 points per game.

Montcalm Community College 12/12/25

The #13 Bulldogs competed in the Dave Selmon Classic at Grand Rapids Community College and earned a convincing 95–60 victory over Montcalm Community College, improving to 8–2 on the season. SSC played without two starters, as sophomores Samar Bures (shoulder) and Shane Handlon (knee, out for the season) did not suit up. Montcalm jumped out to an early 11–5 lead with 14:30 remaining in the first half, but South Suburban steadily chipped away and took a 38–31 lead into halftime.

The game remained close early in the second half, with SSC holding a six-point edge at 53–47 with 12:50 to play. From there, the Bulldogs took complete control, pulling off an impressive 27–0 run to build an 80–47 lead with 7:30 remaining. South Suburban extended the margin to as many as 91–50 with four minutes left before closing out the 35-point victory.

South Suburban had five players score in double figures, led by sophomore guard AJ Abrams, who poured in 23 points while filling the stat sheet with 9 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. Sophomore guard Tanner Fields added 17 points and 4 rebounds. Starting at point guard in place of Bures, sophomore Isaiah Green contributed 12 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds. Freshman guard Zach Greene scored a career-high 11 points, and sophomore center Angel Edmondson chipped in 10 points and 6 rebounds.

The Bulldogs controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 35–25. SSC shot 39-for-70 (55.7%) from the field, 11-for-22 (50%) from three-point range, and 6-for-10 (60%) at the free-throw line. Montcalm finished 23-for-50 (46%) from the field, 7-for-17 (41.2%) from beyond the arc, and 7-for-10 (70%) at the line.

Morton College 12/6/25

The #10 Bulldogs entered their matchup against Morton College playing their third game in five days, while Morton had been idle for a full week. SSC looked fatigued throughout the night, and the challenge grew even tougher when sophomore point guard Samar Bures was rushed to the emergency room after suffering an injury early in the second half. Playing shorthanded and worn down, the Bulldogs fell on the road 74–58, ending their seven-game winning streak.

Morton opened the game on an 18–5 run with 12:30 left in the first half. South Suburban battled back and cut the deficit to 33–27 at halftime. Despite Bures’ injury, SSC briefly seized momentum in the second half and took a 42–41 lead with 14 minutes remaining. However, the Bulldogs could not sustain the surge and faded down the stretch.

Bures still led SSC in scoring with 15 points despite being limited to 21 minutes. Sophomore guards AJ Abrams and Isaiah Green added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Morton controlled the glass, winning the rebounding battle 42–29.

South Suburban struggled offensively, shooting 22-for-67 (32.8%) from the field, 6-for-19 (31.6%) from three-point range, and 8-for-14 (57.1%) at the free-throw line. Morton finished 27-for-58 (46.6%) from the field, 7-for-16 (43.8%) from beyond the arc, and 13-for-21 (61.9%) at the line.

With the loss, SSC fell to 7–2 on the season.

Elgin Community College 12/4/25

The #10 Bulldogs closed out their home portion of the 2025 calendar year with a tough 92–81 victory over Elgin Community College. Elgin came out scorching hot, making their first three three-point attempts and jumping out to a 20–13 lead with 15:16 remaining in the first half. SSC eventually surged ahead 45–43 with 2:30 left, but Elgin’s strong shooting continued, sending the Bulldogs into halftime trailing 51–48. Elgin shot an impressive 57% from the field and 53% from three in the opening half.

Elgin maintained control for the first 12 minutes of the second half and led 76–73 with 8:12 remaining. From there, South Suburban locked in defensively and closed the game on a dominant 19–5 run to secure the win.

Sophomore guard AJ Abrams led the Bulldogs with a double-double, scoring 31 points and grabbing a career-high 17 rebounds. Sophomore guard Samar Bures added 23 points, including 14 in the second half. Sophomore center Angel Edmondson also posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman forward Gakobie McNeal pulled down 11 rebounds of his own, helping SSC dominate the boards 50–28.

South Suburban shot 36-for-66 (54.4%) from the field, 3-for-12 (25%) from three-point range, and 17-for-24 (70.8%) at the free-throw line. Elgin cooled off in the second half and finished 31-for-67 (46.3%) from the field, 13-for-33 (39.4%) from three, and 6-for-10 (60%) at the line.

With the win, South Suburban improved to 7–1 on the season.

McHenry County College 12/2/25

The #10 Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 94–85 home victory over McHenry County College in a high-scoring matchup. SSC built its largest lead of the game at 41–26 with 4:18 remaining in the first half, but McHenry responded with a 12–4 run, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer, trimming the Bulldogs’ lead to 45–38 at halftime.

McHenry carried that momentum into the second half and eventually took a 53–51 lead with 14:30 remaining. Just 30 seconds later, sophomore guard Shane Handlon knocked down a three-pointer to reclaim the lead for SSC at 54–53, a lead the Bulldogs would never relinquish. McHenry made one final push, cutting the score to 82–81 with 2:40 left, but South Suburban closed the game on a decisive 12–4 run to secure the nine-point win.

Sophomore guard AJ Abrams led SSC with a career-high 34 points, along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Sophomore guard Samar Bures added 24 points and 7 assists, while Handlon contributed a career-high 18 points. Freshman forward Gakobie McNeal recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Both teams shot exceptionally well. South Suburban finished 39-for-73 (53.4%) from the field, 6-for-13 (46.2%) from three-point range, and 10-for-20 (50%) at the free-throw line. McHenry was 32-for-49 (65.3%) from the field, 5-for-11 (45.5%) from beyond the arc, and 16-for-22 (72.7%) from the line. SSC won the rebounding battle 35–29 and improved to 6–1 on the season.

Oakton Community College 11/25/25

The #12 Bulldogs went on the road for a Region IV matchup and came away with a hard-fought 82–52 victory over Oakton Community College, improving to 5–1 on the season. The win marked Head Coach John Pigatti’s 550th career victory, bringing his record at SSC to 550–106.

Despite the final score, the game was competitive early. Oakton led for most of the first half and held a 21–18 advantage with 5:20 remaining. South Suburban responded with a 14–5 run to close the half, taking a 32–26 lead into the halftime break. Oakton opened the second half with a 6–0 run to tie the game at 32 with 18:00 left, but that would be their last push. The Bulldogs ignited offensively and defensively, stringing together several scoring runs to pull away for the 30-point win.

South Suburban was led by four sophomores. AJ Abrams recorded a double-double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 assists. Samar Bures added 15 points, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Isaiah Green and Tanner Fields each scored 13 points, with Green also dishing out 6 assists. Sophomore center Angel Edmondson dominated the boards with 13 rebounds, helping SSC control the glass by a decisive 51–24 margin.

The Bulldogs shot 35-for-82 (42.7%) from the field, 4-for-18 (22.2%) from three-point range, and 8-for-10 (80%) at the free-throw line. Oakton finished 20-for-48 (41.7%) from the field, 7-for-17 (41.2%) from beyond the arc, and 5-for-14 (35.7%) at the line.

College of Lake County 11/22/25

The #12 Bulldogs returned home for a Region IV matchup against the College of Lake County and came away with a hard-fought 104–84 victory, improving to 4–1 on the season. SSC jumped out to an early 7–2 lead, but Lake County responded and went ahead 17–15 with 12:20 remaining in the first half. The game remained tight throughout the opening period, and a buzzer-beating three-pointer by sophomore guard Samar Bures sent the Bulldogs into halftime with a 53–48 lead.

South Suburban elevated its defensive intensity in the second half, steadily pulling away and eventually building a 23-point lead with 1:44 left in the game. The Bulldogs maintained control down the stretch to secure the 20-point win.

Samar Bures led SSC with a career-high 32 points, along with 7 assists and 5 steals. Sophomore guard AJ Abrams scored 27 points for the second straight game and added 4 steals. Sophomore guard Isaiah Green recorded a career-high 15 points, while sophomore forward/center Angel Edmondson contributed 12 points and 9 rebounds. The Bulldogs dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 39–21, highlighted by freshman forward Gakobie McNeal’s career-high 11 rebounds.

The Bulldogs shot 39-for-66 (59.1%) from the field, 3-for-13 (23.1%) from three-point range, and 23-for-29 (79.3%) at the free-throw line. Lake County finished 26-for-45 (57.8%) from the field, 7-for-17 (41.2%) from beyond the arc, and 25-for-35 (71.4%) at the line.

Prairie State College 11/20/25

The #12 Bulldogs traveled to south-suburban rival Prairie State College and came away with an impressive 88–54 victory, improving to 3–1 on the season. South Suburban jumped out to an early double-digit lead and carried that momentum into halftime with a 42–26 advantage. The second half mirrored the first, as SSC continued to widen the gap, extending the lead to 86–50 before closing out the final 34-point margin of victory.

South Suburban was led by sophomore guard AJ Abrams, who recorded a double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while also adding 5 assists and 4 steals. Sophomore guard Samar Bures contributed 22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. The Bulldogs’ only other double-digit scorer was sophomore guard Tanner Fields, who chipped in 15 points.

SSC shot 35-for-65 (53.8%) from the field, 7-for-17 (41.2%) from three-point range, and 11-for-14 (78.6%) at the free-throw line. Prairie State finished 22-for-66 (33.3%) from the field, 2-for-18 (11.1%) from three, and 8-for-16 (50%) at the line.

Spoon River College 11/15/25

The #14 Bulldogs concluded their early-season homestand with a hard-fought 75–59 victory over Spoon River College. SSC jumped out to an early 11–4 lead, but Spoon River responded and held a 29–25 advantage with two minutes left in the first half. SSC freshman guard Zach Greene scored five points in the final minutes, including a buzzer-beating two-point basket to tie the game at 32–32 heading into halftime.

The game remained tied at 36–36 with 17:30 to play before SSC’s defense and offense began to take control. The Bulldogs went on a 12–4 run to build a 48–40 lead with 12:34 remaining. Spoon River pulled within four at 60–56 with 4:50 left, but South Suburban closed the game on a dominant 15–3 run to secure the 16-point victory.

South Suburban shot 31-for-62 (50%) from the field, 7-for-18 (38.9%) from three-point range, and 6-for-9 (66.7%) from the free-throw line. Spoon River finished 22-for-46 (47.8%) from the field, 3-for-14 (21.4%) from beyond the arc, and 12-for-18 (66.7%) at the line.

The Bulldogs had three sophomore guards score in double figures: AJ Abrams (21 points, 4 assists), Samar Bures (15 points, 9 assists), and Shane Handlon (12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists). Sophomore center Angel Edmondson led SSC in rebounds with 13. South Suburban won the rebounding battle 34–27 and improved to 2–1 on the season.

Marian University Ancilla 11/12/25

The #14 Bulldogs rebounded from their home-opening loss with a convincing 103–65 victory over Marian University Ancilla. South Suburban trailed early, down 16–15 with 12:50 remaining in the first half, still feeling the effects of the previous defeat. Momentum shifted after a made three-point shot by freshman guard/forward Dominic Pangallo, which gave SSC the lead for good at 18–16 with 12:30 to play. The Bulldogs carried that energy into the break, leading 40–33 at halftime.

The second half is where SSC elevated its intensity. Marian University Ancilla cut the lead to 46–40 with 16:20 remaining, but that was as close as they would get. South Suburban’s defense was dominant, steadily extending the margin to as many as 40 points before closing out the 38-point victory.

SSC had several standout performances. Sophomore guard AJ Abrams led the way with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Sophomore forward/center Angel Edmondson posted a double-double, scoring a career-high 21 points while grabbing 10 rebounds and adding 4 assists. Sophomore guard Samar Bures contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, and sophomore guard Shane Handlon added 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists.

South Suburban shot 40-for-67 (59.7%) from the field, 6-for-15 (40%) from three-point range, and a perfect 17-for-17 at the free throw line, marking the first time in Coach John Pigatti’s 20 seasons that an SSC team was perfect from the line with more than 12 attempts. Marian University Ancilla shot 23-for-51 (45.1%) from the field, 4-for-11 (36.4%) from three, and 15-for-20 (75%) at the line. SSC also dominated the boards, outrebounding Marian 42–18.

With the win, South Suburban improved to 1–1 on the season.

Danville Area Community College 11/8/25

The South Suburban College Bulldogs, ranked sixth nationally, opened their 2025–26 season at home against nationally ranked Danville Area Community College. Despite an impressive comeback from an 18-point deficit, the Bulldogs came up short in a 76–70 loss. The defeat marked only the second home opener loss for Head Coach John Pigatti in his 20 seasons leading South Suburban.

Both teams started slowly, with South Suburban holding a narrow 8–7 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the first half. Danville went on a 29–15 run, and had a 36–23 lead into halftime.

The second half began unfavorably for the Bulldogs, as Danville extended its lead to 43–25 with 17:40 remaining. From there, South Suburban responded with a spirited 23–5 run, tying the game at 48 with 10:48 left in the game. However, foul trouble proved costly down the stretch. The Bulldogs were called for 27 fouls, sending Danville to shoot a total of 41 free throws for the game, an average of more than once per minute.

Sophomore guard Samar Bures led South Suburban with 26 points, six assists, and three steals. Sophomore guard A.J. Abrams added 14 points, nine rebounds, and five steals. Two additional Bulldogs scored in double figures: sophomore guard Isaiah Green and freshman guard/forward Dominic Pangallo, who each contributed 12 points.

As a team, South Suburban shot 44.4% (28 of 63) from the field, 30% (6 of 20) from three-point range, and 53.3% (8 of 15) from the free-throw line. Danville connected on 44.9% (22 of 49) from the field, 36.4% (4 of 11) from beyond the arc, and 68.3% (28 of 41) from the free-throw line. The Bulldogs were outrebounded 42–30.