Western Nebraska finishes tough in 57-47 win over MCC men

The McCook Community College men's basketball team took a 43-41 lead in the final four minutes of the game and went cold from the field in a 57-47 loss Friday at home against Western Nebraska Community College.

MCC led 41-39 with 7:32 left in the game and regained the lead 43-41 with about four minutes remaining in the game and scored just four points the rest of the game.

"That's the blueprint for us," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. "Defenses pack it in the paint and make us shoot, and even with that we got some good looks around the rim and we were tough there, but we have to be tougher finishing the basketball."

The coach said the difference in the game was that the Cougars were tougher around the rim.

"They had the same drives as what we did and they made theirs and we didn't," Brandl said.

Western made just four of 17 3-pointers (23.5 percent) while MCC went three of 19 (15.8 percent). The Cougars shot 45.1 percent from the floor compared to 34.5 percent for MCC. WNCC was seven of nine from the free-throw line (77.8 percent) and MCC went four of eight (50 percent).

"So it was a completely toughness game and that's an area that we lacked and it's disappointing because that's not our basketball team," Brandl said.

Western Nebraska outrebounded MCC 39-31.

The Cougars held the lead at half 29-25. Western Nebraska shot 42.9 percent from the field in the first half while MCC made 38.5 percent. The Cougars stepped up and shot 47.8 percent in the second half and MCC cooled off to 31.3 percent in the final 20 minutes.

Ezichi Kalu (Lagos, Nigeria) led MCC with 12 points and three rebounds. Beni Fungula (Stockholm, Sweden) scored 10 points. Julian Lual (Calgary, Alberta) led MCC with five rebounds.

 "We just didn't play well. Those games happen but still, when you hold a team to 57 points you think you'll be okay but we fought back and got that lead late and just couldn't score," Brandl said.

Western Nebraska goes to 14-8 and 3-3 in the south region.

MCC falls to 5-18 and 1-6 in Region IX South.

The MCC men will be in action at home again Saturday for a 2 p.m. matchup with Northeastern Junior College.

"The team that played tonight isn't who we are and I trust that we will be better. And what's nice is you get a comeback game tomorrow and we have to be better and tougher because NJC is physical and they can beat you up but we just have to flat out play better, because we are better than what we showed," Brandl said.

For more photos from tonight's game, please visit the MCC Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MPCCMcCook