MCC Men win third straight in region, 79-63 over Northeastern

The McCook Community College men posted their third straight home win in Region IX play Friday with a 79-63 win over Northeastern Junior College. The game in the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center was a makeup game from one that was postponed a day earlier because of adverse weather.

The win, on Sophomore Night, keeps MCC on pace with Western Nebraska with both teams tied for second place in the Region IX South standings, at 5-4. The two teams meet Saturday in Scottsbluff (5 p.m. CST).

MCC came out focused and ready, took advantage in the paint, and led at the half by 16 points, 42-26. The home team made 17 of 34 shots from the field and made six of 14 3-pointers (42.9 percent) in the first 20 minutes.

"Offensively I thought we played a really good game. I was happy how we went inside and out most of the time," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. MCC stretched its lead to 25 points at the 15:19 mark of the second half, but Northeastern was able to make a run.

"We got a little complacent in the second half and NJC got going a little bit and cut it to 10, but our guys did a good job of responding and staying with the game plan," said Brandl.

"Rebound-wise it was one of our best games," said Brandl. "We had multiple guys with double-digit rebounds and anytime you can outrebound an NJC team by that much just shows how tough you're playing because that's a really good rebounding basketball team."

MCC held a 51-36 rebound advantage with freshman William Humer (Sollentuna, Sweden) pulling down 14 and freshman Noah Boyed (Castries, St. Lucia) totaling 12. The two also teamed up to go nine-for-19 from the field (47.4 percent) and combined for 26 points with Humer scoring 16 and Boyed 10.

"The other thing I thought we did really well was guard them," said Brandl. "Our goal is to hold teams to 42 percent from the field and we held them to 35 percent, and I thought they were frustrated for most of the game," said Brandl.

MCC held NJC to 33.3 percent in the first half and 37 percent in the second half. From the 3-point line the Plainsmen made four of 18 shots (22.2 percent) and converted on 15 of 25 free throws (60 percent).

The coach also pointed to another key statistic for his team – turnovers where MCC committed 11.

"It's been no secret with us, low-turnover games equal points for us and we've got to keep going with that," said Brandl.

Sophomore Simon Akena (Stockholm, Sweden) led MCC with 22 points. He went 8 of 16 from the field and made four of seven 3 pointers. Freshman Martel Evans (Omaha Creighton Prep) scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds. Jah-Keish Demby (sophomore, Wilmington, Del.) had eight points and Zeki Cavli (Bodrum, Turkey) scored seven. MCC shot 44.6 percent from the field for the game, 37.7 percent on 32 3-point attempts and made nine of 14 free throws (64.3 percent).

Five sophomores and a freshman who is moving on, were honored prior to the game. Sophomores honored included Akena, Demby, Madit Lueeth (Edmonton Alberta, Canada), Cameron Nyarko (London, England), and Ghared Boyce, (Brockton, Mass). Freshman William Humer (Sollentuna, Sweden) is leaving after one year at MCC having accepted a scholarship to Division I San Jose State.

NJC falls to 4-5 in the Region IX South standings and 13-12 overall.

"We're in a position where we're playing together and playing tougher. We need to continue being solid because we're going to a place tomorrow in Scottsbluff in Cougar Palace that is a really tough place to play with a lot at stake for both teams" said Brandl.

MCC improves to 10-16 heading into the Saturday game with Western Nebraska.

"We're not chasing a win up there, we're going up there to play our best basketball, to play together and play tough and whatever happens, happens," said Brandl.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC basketball this season and all sports including schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at mccindians.com