ALTON – The Alton Redbirds boys’ basketball team secured a crucial 68-65 home victory Tuesday night, holding off tenacious CBC.

“It’s a huge win,” Redbirds coach Eric Smith said. “And against that program? It’s a big deal. It’s been a while since we’ve had everybody healthy, and we’ve had everybody out on the floor together. Tonight, that was the case, and we did some things a little bit better.”

The contest was close throughout, heading into halftime tied 28- 28.

The CDC Cadets erased a six-point Redbird advantage late in the first half, tied at 28 after Jackson Andrews drained a three-pointer.

Alton took a nine-point lead in the third following three straight fast break layups, two from Malik Smith, one from Kevin Caldwell following consecutive defensive rebounds.

“The big key was rebounding,” Smith said. “In the first half, we gave them, I think, just one opportunity. When they made a run, it was because they started getting some opportunities from offensive rebounding, but we stayed competitive. I thought we did a nice job.”

The Cadets hung tough when those offensive rebounds came, taking a 60-59 lead in the fourth quarter on a loud one-handed dunk from CBC’s Caleb Love.

But Malik Smith was fouled on the next possession after securing a steal and sunk both his foul shots. He was fouled again after a crucial defensive rebound by Alton’s Joshua Rivers, again making both throws, giving the Redbirds a lead they wouldn’t wouldn’t look back from. ‘

Caldwell led both teams in points with 21. He sunk each of his nine attempted free throws. Malik Smith followed with 18, and Rivers put up 13.

The win improves Alton’s record to 13-8 on the season, just four games before the start of the postseason. CBC is 7-12.

Tuesday’s victory was a shot in the arm for the Redbirds‘ confidence that’d hit a late-season lull after a blistering start to the season.

But now, they appear back on track.

“The close games at the beginning of the season, we won all of them,” Smith said. “Throughout the course of the season, that can be a growing process. We’ve played really good teams, some teams that have had some really good players. It’s been a process for us, because what we’re trying to accomplish is that we’re going to be competitive heading to the Regional, we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win in the Regional, and hopefully play in the Sectional.”