MCC Men picking up steam with Friday win at Lamar

LAMAR, Colo. – The McCook Community College men picked up a 78-69 win on the road over Lamar Community College Friday. The win was MCC's third straight, heading into the final week of the regular season.

"I thought our guys were extremely tough tonight," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. "Lamar is a very good basketball team and it's a tough place to play."

Lamar held a 33-27 advantage at halftime but MCC responded with a MCC 51-36 edge over the Runnin Lopes in the second half and able to maintain the lead late making 13 of 17 second-half free throws and outscored Lamar at the free throw line by 14 points. MCC made 23 of 27 shots from the charity stripe for the game (85.2 percent).

Sophomore Damien Perry (Wareham, Mass.) led MCC with 24 points and made five of seven 3-point shots. Julian Lual (sophomore, Calgary, Alberta) had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Ezichi Kalu (Lagos, Nigeria) scored eight points and had five boards.

"Obviously From a defensive and rebounding perspective Julian and Ezichi were really good as they have been all year for us," Brandl said. "But D'Andre Dennis was big for us in this game getting us back into it in the second half like he did."

Dennis (Charlotte, N.C.) made three of seven 3-pointers and finished with 11 points. Beni Fungula (Stockholm, Sweden) had 10 points and five rebounds off the bench. DaMiene Boles Jr. (Dayton, Ohio) scored nine points.

"Damien Perry has been super consistent as he needs to be but Beni Fungula has really thrived in his new role for us and Twin, (DaMiene Boles) has also been crazy consistent," Brandl said. "I'm just so proud with how bought in our group is right now."

MCC shot 37.9 percent from the field, made nine of 19 3-pointers (47.4 percent), and won the rebound battle 44-38. MCC turned the ball over 16 times in the game.

"I thought we were a little lose with the ball and would have like to see us not give up the second chances like we did but credit to our guts for sticking to a game plan and making plays down the stretch when we needed to," said Brandl.

Lamar shot 36.2 percent from the field, made nine of 27 shots from the 3-point line, and went nine of 18 (69.2 percent) from the line.

Lamar falls to 12-10 and 4-5 in the south region.

MCC improves to 8-18 and 3-6 in the Region IX South.

On Tuesday MCC travels to North Platte for a 7 p.m. game with the Knights. MCC will close out the regular season with a pair of home games Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. against Trinidad State and Feb 19. At 4 p.m. against Otero Junior College. That game will also be in conjunction with the Dick Driml Chili Cook-Off and sophomores will be recognized prior to the game.