INA, ILL. – Wabash Valley had two reasons to celebrate on Monday night.

For starters, the Warriors advanced on in the NJCAA Central District tournament with a 73-65 victory over Lincoln Trail.

The other celebration came after the game, when sophomore Marcus Garrett, who led the Warriors with 22 points, was told he had crossed the 1,000-point mark for his career. The coaches, pledged to secrecy, surprised him with the news.

What makes Garrett's accomplishments special is that his career was interrupted for one entire season. WVC head coach Mike Carpenter lauded the red-shirt for "how hard he worked, especially to come back from a total ACL surgery like he did last year, to come back and pick up where he left off and score 1,000 points."

Garrett is the only player in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference to finish in the top ten in points, rebounds and assists. "So it's not just the scoring he's doing, and to be 6-foot-1 and be fifth in the conference in rebounding says a lot about him," Carpenter said.

As for Garrett, "my leadership I value the most. Whatever coach Carp wants, I can bring it and get it done," he said.

Wabash Valley (21-10) managed to nurse a small advantage throughout the second half, but when Lincoln Trail crept to within two points, 63-61, late, the Warriors went to work to close it out.

WVC, aiming for a third win over the Statesmen this season, then scored nine consecutive points – including back-to-back dunks by Raekwon Drake – to carry a 72-61 lead into the final minute of the game.

"We live to play another day," said Carpenter about the game. "We didn't play even close to average today, but that's happens at tournaments.

"Lincoln Trail took us out of our stuff. But we stuck it out, and got a good win."

Tony Burks finished with 11 points, while Drake added 10.

Lincoln Trail finished the season with a mark of 18-11.

Next up for the Warriors: a semifinal matchup with ninth-ranked John A. Logan (24-5) in the tournament semifinals.