MCC men lose 76-63 to Northeastern JC

The McCook Community College men’s basketball team lost 76-63 Wednesday at home to Northeastern Junior College.

The two teams were tied 31-31 at the half but the Plainsmen outscored MCC 45-32 in the second half – including an 18-point advantage from the 3-point line. NJC made six of 10 shots from distance while MCC was 0-for-11.

“We really wanted this one with the way the schedule was setting up with a big one on the road Friday and then finishing the final week starting Tuesday with three at home,” said Assistant Drake Henderson. “I just didn’t happen with the way we had too many unacceptable turnovers, we couldn’t get a stop when we needed one, and free-throws and shot making were unacceptable.”

MCC had six offensive rebounds in the first half and 15 total with NJC having a slight edge with 16.

“I thought we rebounded pretty well in the first half, battled hard on the offensive end leading to extra possessions,” said Henderson. “But in the second half we didn’t have the intensity – one that comes to mind was when it was a six-or-seven-point game, and they shoot a free throw and miss – we can’t get the rebound and they end up making a three.”

NJC finished the night winning the board battle 40-28.

The Plainsmen shot 52.4 percent in the first half, 56 percent in the second half and finished at 54.3 percent and 47.1 percent on 16 shots from the arc. NJC connected on 18 of 21 free throws (85.7.

MCC shot 33.3 percent from the field in the first half, 32.3 in the second half, shot five-for-27 from the 3-point line (18.5 percent), and went 18 of 27 from the free-throw line (66.7 percent).

Freshman Nate Coley, (Little Rock, Ark.) led MCC with 21 points, Sophomore Norris Bourne Jr. (Beaumont, Texas) scored 13 and freshman Da'Shawn Hall-Johnson (Bridgeport, Conn.) put in nine off the bench.

Freshman Jason Robinson (Waterbury, Conn.) led MCC with seven rebounds.

“We didn’t play the right way and do what we needed to win the game. We just have to be better,” said Henderson.

NJC improves to 4-6 in the Region IX south standings and 9-18 overall.

MCC falls to 12-14 overall and at the bottom of the standings at 2-6.

The Indians travel to Scottsbluff Friday. The Cougars were an 85-83 winner Wednesday night over North Platte.

Up-to-date information about MCC basketball including livestream links, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com 

 

REGION IX SOUTH D-1 MEN’S STANDINGS
                                            W-L    PCT      OVERALL
Trinidad State               6-3     .667      13-13  (.500)

Lamar CC                       6-4     .600       8-15  (.348)

Western Nebraska     5-4     .555      10-15   (.400)

North Platte                   4-4     .500     16-10  (.615)

Otero College               4-4     .500      10-13  (.435)

Northeastern JC          4-6     .400        9-18  (.333)

McCook                           2-6     .250      12-14  (.461)

 

WEDNESDAY RESULTS
Northeastern JC 76, McCook CC 63 (at McCook)

Western Nebraska 85, North Platte 83 (at Scottsbluff)

FRIDAY GAMES
Northeastern JC at North Platte, 7 p.m.

Otero College at Lamar, 8 p.m.

McCook at Western Nebraska, 8:30 p.m.

REMAINING MCC SCHEDULE
Feb. 25 – North Platte at McCook, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 – Otero College at McCook CC (7:30 p.m.)

March 1 – Trinidad State at McCook CC (4 p.m.)