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After falling behind by a dozen points, the Montcalm Community College Centurions men’s basketball team had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but it fell short, giving the Alpena Community College Lumberjacks an 87-84 win on the Centurions’ court, Saturday, Feb. 14.
The win gives the Lumberjacks (1-10 MCCAA Northern, 2-19 overall) their first conference win while the loss for the Centurions (7-4 MCCAA Northern, 14-11 overall) slips them into third place in the conference, one game behind Bay College (8-3 MCCAA Northern, 19-6 overall).
With 11 seconds left and the Lumberjacks leading by one, MCC’s Zhian Briggs (Augusta, Ga.) intentionally fouled Gary Reed to stop the clock. After Reed sank both free throws to give Alpena an 87-84 lead, sophomore Mason Dunn (Big Rapids, Mich.) shot a 3-pointer but missed with five seconds left. Reed ended up with the ball, securing the Lumberjacks’ upset win.
“We simply came out flat-footed,” Briggs said. “They were hungrier for the win, more than we were.”
After a tight first half, which Alpena led 43-40 at halftime, the Lumberjacks established a 10-point lead after Derian Williams hit a 3-pointer to make it a 76-66 score with 6:46 to go. Kavon Patterson would push the Lumberjacks’ lead to 12 points after his layup 14 seconds later.
MCC began making a comeback with 3:24 to go in the game when Briggs hit a layup to make it 80-73. Freshman Joel Washington (Gainesville, Fla.) then cut it to a five-point lead with a layup with only 2:41 left.
As teams traded buckets, Briggs was fouled with 1:06 to go with Alpena leading 82-78. After only sinking one of two, the Centurions found themselves down by three until, at the 33-second mark, MCC had to go into foul mode. ACC’s Kobe Johnson was sent to the line, which he sank both his free throws, giving the Lumberjacks an 84-79 lead.
A 3-pointer by sophomore Jahmere Evans (Indianapolis, Ind.) gave new life to the Centurions seconds later, however, cutting Alpena’s lead to only 84-82 with 23 seconds left. By that time, however, MCC had to stick with the fouls and hope for missed free throws.
Reed went to the line with 21 seconds and sank one free throw for Alpena. Evans then got fouled by Johnson with 12 seconds to go and Evans sank both free throws to pull within one point, but MCC was unable to tie it at the end.
With three regular season games left, Briggs said it will be important for his Centurions to just hit the restart button after this loss.
“We have to get back to the basics,” Briggs said. “Most of all, we are going to have to have the mindset of finishing the drill.”
MCC shot 43.7% (31-of-71) vs. ACC’s 44.1% (30-of-68) and went 13-for-40 from the 3-point line. Alpena had the edge in free throws, 19-of-22 to MCC’s 9-of-19 and rebounds (43-42). MCC led in assists (20-15), second-chance points (19-17), points in the paint (34-24) and bench points (55-39).
Briggs led MCC with 18 points and eight assists while also getting six rebounds. Freshman Jaxon Ingles (Greenville, Mich.), came off the bench to score a personal-high 18 points. Evans finished with 13 points while Dunn had 12 points while also leading the team with nine rebounds.
For Alpena, Williams scored a game-high 30 points, Patterson finished with 21 and Reed had 18 points. Johnson finished with 14 points.
UP NEXT: The Centurions will be on the road in its next game, taking on Delta College, Wednesday, Feb. 18. Game time is 7:30 p.m. MCC won the first meeting, 70-64, at home, Jan. 28
MCC will then host North Central Michigan (2-9 MCCAA Northern, 3-20 overall) on Saturday, Feb. 21, for its final home game of the season. The evening will be Sophomore/Family Night, as well.
For its final regular season game, MCC will be on the road at Kirtland Community College (6-5 MCCAA Northern, 7-16 overall), Tuesday, Feb. 24.