MCC men down Eastern Wyoming 79-74

MCC men down Eastern Wyoming 79-74

The McCook Community College men's basketball team won its third straight game with a 79-74 win Saturday over Eastern Wyoming in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

"This was a great team effort tonight," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. "I'm just proud of this team and pleased with the route we are headed."

The Indians got another clutch performance from its bench, saw sophomore Rahkiem Petterson (Midland, Texas) step up on back-to-back nights, and improve to 5-2 heading to a key week with three Region IX south division games on the schedule in the next six days.

"It's nice to be able to have a turnaround like this. This is the first time we've won back-to-back games this season," said Brandl. "And that was the part I was a little nervous about, just with our legs."

To further push the stamina, the Indians were without Rashe' France (redshirt sophomore, Memphis, Tenn.) who was out sick Saturday.

"I think the real story of this game is Cory Kaplan," Brandl said of the 6-6 redshirt sophomore from, Merrit Island, Fla., who transferred to MCC from Florida Tech.

"He was phenomenal. Talk about a guy who's bought in all year a great teammate. Had his number called tonight and he delivered," Brandl said.

Kaplan scored seven points off the bench including a first-half 3-pointer and went four-for-four from the free-throw line including two in the final minute to help ice the win.

"He gets fouled, gets poked in the eye and can barely see out there and is getting water drops on the bench and sinks two big free throws for us," Brand said.

"Last night we talked about our bench stepping up and giving us 27 points and today they came back and give us 22," Brandl said.

Redshirt freshman Will Lee (Queens, N.Y. /Blue Ridge School, St. George, Va.) -- a transfer from Dodge City Community College, scored 15 points off the bench, including a three-for-five night from the 3-point line.

"Will Lee goes four of six from the field for us and that was big," Brandl said. "He's a shooter who can get it going, he's just been struggling to find his shot and he got it going today."

Four of five MCC starters reached double-figures. Petterson led the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

"Rahkeim Petterson had a great weekend, he was the man for us even though he was fighting through some cramps," Brandl said.

Sophomore Cortland Blake (Fort Worth, Texas) scored 14 points. Freshman Julian Lual (Calgary, Alberta) scored 13 along with six rebounds and sophomore Damien Perry (Wareham, Mass.) scored 11 with three 3-pointers.

MCC shot 40.3 percent from the field and made 11 of 27 shots from distance (40.7 percent). The Indians made 18 of 22 free throws (81.8 percent).

Eastern Wyoming shot 45.3 percent from the field, made 10 of 24 shots from distance (41.7 percent) and was just six of 12 from the line. The Lancers out-rebounded MCC 31-28. EWC falls to 6-4 on the season.

The MCC men improve to 5-2 and take on Lamar Community College (3-4) Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

For more photos from today's game please visit the McCook Community College Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MPCCMcCook