Talk echoed all over the Student Recreation Center on Thursday night.

Even as the line of spectators trying to leave dwindled, the independent, highly competitive intramural basketball game between teams Church and Killa Instinct continued to buzz in the air.

The four-week intramural basketball league ended with a 55-46 championship victory for Team Church.

The season was great with the addition of many football players, Intramural Sports Coordinator Amy Fawcett said.

Team Killa Instinct, led by NIU football player Randee Drew, came out with an early lead and was up by six at the half. This marked the last time it would hold the lead.

“[Edward “Water” Charles] came out on fire,” said Drew, who is preparing for the NFL Draft.

Charles hit three three-pointers in a row after halftime to take a 29-28 lead, and Team Church never gave up the lead after that.

For the rest of the second half, Drew and Team Killa Instinct tried to catch up, but to no avail.

“We just got fatigued,” Drew said. “I mean, [Church] had some good players, but it was more that our shots were falling flat.”

At one point, Drew single-handedly brought his team within one point when he hit a three-pointer, hustled to steal the inbounds pass and then calmly made another three.

But Killa Instinct could not put together another run, as it turned the ball over the next three times down the court.

Team Church then put the game out of reach with two more three-pointers with two minutes left.

Fawcett, who was one of the referees for the game, said he was excited about the way the season ended.

“Now that was fun,” Fawcett said. “I am really proud of the sportsmanship shown tonight.”

Even the losing team walked off the court with smiles on their faces.

“It was a great game,” Drew said. “It went down to the wire. I mean, what more can you ask for?”