MCC Men earn first win besting Eastern Wyoming 79-75

The McCook Community College men's basketball team won its first game of the season Friday at home handing Eastern Wyoming a 79-75 loss.

"It was kind of the same story tonight as it was against Colby Monday, I thought our guys played really hard," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. "We didn't play smart but be played hard."

Five MCC players scored in double figures led by second-year returner Julian Lual (Calgary, Alberta) who led all players with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

"That kid has just done everything for us and we need him to continue doing everything for us because he's that type of player," Brandl said.

Freshman Mykel Thomas (Orlando, Fla.) saw his first action of the season and poured in 18 points on a six-for-seven night at the 3-point line.

"Mykel has been up and down for us, he's been hurt but to come in the game like he did and go six-for-10 from the field and get you 18 points in 18 minutes, that's huge," said Brandl. "He really stepped up big for us."

DaMiene Boles Jr. (Dayton, Ohio) scored 11 points, Beni Fungula (Stockholm, Sweden) and Shemar Dennis (Worcester, Mass.) both scored 10 points.

"It was good to see some guys getting their shots going tonight," said Brandl said. "And it was good to see a balanced scoring attack for us. Shemar Dennis does some stuff that drives me crazy, but he always comes back with a hustle play and I know he's going to play hard."

Freshman D'Andre Dennis (Charlotte, N.C.) scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds.

"D'Andre Dennis got us some big rebounds at the end," Brandl said. "Anytime you can beat somebody on rebounds 50-34 obviously you're doing something right."

MCC shot 50 percent from the field, made 10 of 24 shots from the arc (41.7) and was five of 12 from the line. Eastern Wyoming was 41.2 percent from the field, 32.1 percent on 28 3-pointers and 10 of 11 (90.1 percent) from the line.

MCC turned the ball over 19 times to 15 for the Lancers.

"We have got to find ways to take better care of the basketball, we statted 24 from the bench and you're not going to win very many games turning the ball like that especially good teams," said Brandl.

MCC, 1-1, will take on another Region IX north opponent in Laramie County Community College Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

"It will be another tough one, they shoot the basketball well, and are an excellent transition team," Brandl said. "teams that run and gun like that are always tough on that second game of back-to-back days, so we have to be ready to play."

For more photos from tonight's game please visit the MCC Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/MPCCMcCook