The Lake Forest men's basketball team battled all the way until the end at the Sports and Recreation Center on Wednesday night but could not come up with the victory against the University of Chicago, losing 84-80.
 
Forward Cristian Rodriguez was a strong force inside, scoring a career-high 30 points on 13-of-19 shooting. It was the senior's most points as a Forester since scoring 27 points in the season opener Nov. 8 against North Park, and it was his most in a game since scoring 29 points on Jan. 13, 2024, against St. Thomas University.
 
Coltrane Marchand filled the box score with 18 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Senior wing Alex Forowycz added 19 points for Lake Forest (3-4). It was a cold shooting night from behind the arc for Lake Forest, as the hosts shot just 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from the three-point line.
 
The trio of Rodriguez, Marchand, and Forowycz combined for 67 of the Foresters' points 80 points on the day against Chicago, who was ranked No. 7 in the latest D3Hoops.com poll.  
 
The Foresters trailed much of the second half but utilized a 9-3 run to get within a possession with under a minute to go. Marchand picked off an errant pass and took it all the way for a layup with 47.7 seconds left to bring the Foresters deficit to 81-78. Lake Forest could not come up with the one stop they needed on the next possession to have an opportunity to tie the game.
 
Rodriguez was dominant inside and could not be contained in the first half. The senior from Texas had 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the opening half, carrying a Lake Forest offense that shot just 1-of-8 from three-point range in the first half.
 
Rodriguez played most of the second half with a wrap on his elbow after a hard foul left a golf-ball sized welt on his elbow early in the second half but continued to be productive the rest of the game for the Foresters.
 
The Foresters got off to a hot start in the game, hitting their first three shots of the contest and jumping out to a quick 11-4 lead over the Maroons.
 
Lake Forest will return to action Saturday for its Midwest Conference opener against Lawrence University. The Foresters and Vikings will tip off at 1 p.m.