MCC men lose in overtime to North Central Missouri

OTTUMWA, Iowa – North Central Missouri College out-scored the McCook Community College men 13-5 in overtime to pick up an 85-77 win in the Bowling RV Classic.

MCC made just two of 12 shots (16.7 percent) in the extra five minutes and were one of five from the 3-point line. North Central made two of three shots in overtime including its only 3-point attempt, but went to the free-throw line 11 times, making eight.

"We gave this one away" said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl.

Julian Lual (Calgary, Alberta) hit a 3-pointer at the mid-way point of the first half to break a 14-14 tie as MCC went on a 9-0 run over a 90 second span, the last four coming on a Trey Summers (Greeley, Colo.) jumper and a couple free throws to put MCC up 23-14 at the 8:38 mark.

MCC led at the half 40-32 despite only shooting 30.2 percent from the field and making just two of 11 shots from the 3-point line. MCC finished the game shooting just 32.6 percent from the field, made seven of 29 3-pointers (24.1) and were 12 of 16 from the free-throw line (75 percent).

"Offensively we weren't very good against the zone. People play zone for two reason, they either don't think you can shoot or they can't guard you," Brandl said. "And we didn't step up and make shots."

The Pirates shot 43.3 percent from the floor, made eight of 23 3-pointers, (34.8 percent) and made 25 of 33 free throws (75.8 percent.) The Pirates edged MCC 51-46 in rebounding and had a commanding 39-14 advantage in bench scoring.

"At the end of the day, we have to be better defensively, if we can't guard then it's going to be like this every night," Brandl said.

Lual led all scorers with 31 points and pulled down 14 rebounds including eight on the offensive end. Damien Perry (Wareham, Mass.) scored 12 and D'Andre Dennis (Charlotte, N.C.) had 11. Summers picked up 10 rebounds and scored eight points.

The Pirates improve to 5-4.

MCC, losers of seven straight games, falls to 1-8 and heads to Columbus Tuesday for a Nebraska Community College Athletics Conference game with Central Community College starting at 7:30p.m.

On Friday MCC travels to Twin Falls Idaho for a couple games in a tournament there playing No. 20 Snow College (6-1) Friday and College of Southern Idaho (5-1) Saturday.